SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $27 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FORT DRUM’S UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HANGAR IN JUST-UNVEILED OMNIBUS BILL

Washington, DC – US Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Omnibus spending bill – a must-pass bill that funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year – includes $27 million in funding to build an unmanned aerial vehicle hangar at Fort Drum. Schumer and Gillibrand both wrote to Senate and House appropriators urging them to include funds for this hangar investment in the omnibus spending bill.

“The inclusion of funding for a brand new hangar for Fort Drum’s cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle program will house the systems used for critical reconnaissance and support missions,” said Senator Schumer. “I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress to vote for this bill and give Fort Drum and its brave soldiers some great news before the holidays.”

“This federal funding for Fort Drum’s unmanned aerial vehicle program is an important investment not just for the local community, but for our entire country,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Our national defense capabilities will benefit greatly from this significant improvement at Fort Drum.” 

The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) deployed by the Army to execute Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Security, Attack, and Command and Control missions. Other infantry divisions have also been assigned Gray Eagle companies to support the soldiers as they deploy overseas. The funding will be used to create a hangar to house a fleet of ten Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft and 128 employees at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

###