WASHINGTON, April 15, 2025 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) wrote a letter urging members of Congress to sign a bipartisan letter supporting the C-130J Super Hercules program in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Defense Appropriations bill.

The bipartisan letter, led by U.S. Reps. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), David Scott (D-Ga.) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), calls on the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to ensure continued investment in the C-130J — the only U.S.-made military airlifter currently in production.

The letter requests the following additions in the FY26 defense budget:

• +8 C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard (ANG)/Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
• +3 to +5 KC-130J aircraft for the Navy Reserve (USNR) to continue C/KC-130T recapitalization
• +2 LC-130J ski-equipped aircraft for the ANG
• +2 KC-130Js for the U.S. Marine Corps to replace operational losses
• +$100 million for fleetwide Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS)
• +$71 million for non-recurring engineering related to the ANG’s LC-130J variant

“The C-130J is the only U.S.-made airlift currently in production, and a stable and efficient production line is vital in supporting current and future Department of Defense and allied nation airlift requirements,” wrote IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “In addition, the C-130J production line provides for thousands of high-skilled Machinists Union jobs and supports more than 27,000 jobs across its nationwide supply chain”

The IAM Union strongly urges every member of Congress to join this bipartisan effort to help maintain a stable and efficient C-130J production line, which is essential for meeting current and future U.S. and allied airlift needs.

Read the complete letter here.