Mayor Bowser Issues Statement Opposing Section 373 of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the following statement in opposition to Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would expand military access to Washington, DC’s airspace:

“I am deeply concerned about the provision included in the NDAA which would allow military departments to authorize training missions in DC’s already crowded and complex airspace. Following the tragic crash over the Potomac River in January, federal agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued urgent safety recommendations and implemented measures to protect everyone flying to and from our nation’s capital. This provision disregards those efforts and reverses the progress we’ve made.  

 “It is now clear that this provision was included without consultation from the NTSB, the agency leading the investigation into the crash, and without regard for the safety of DC residents, visitors, and our military personnel. I urge Congress to strike Section 373 from the NDAA and to follow the recommendations of safety experts. I will continue working alongside our federal partners to ensure compliance with safety protocols and to protect the integrity of our airspace.”