Air, Space Force budgets seek to boost weapons, cut civilian jobs

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Marcella Philips secures a hypersonic weapon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Ledbetter)

By Zita Ballinger Fletcher • Aug 22, 2025

New weapons and improved technology are at the forefront of budget priorities for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, while the spending plans also seek to slash more than 5,700 civilian jobs and reduce contracting services through billions in spending cuts.

The Air Force will begin procurement of Family Affordable Mass Missiles, or FAMM, a new type of cost-effective, subsonic cruise missile that can strike at long range and can be produced en masse. While the service has been fairly tight-lipped about the FAMM program so far, it is slated to get underway in fiscal 2026 alongside the development of Long Range Anti-Ship missiles and Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles with extended range, according to budget documents.

The service’s budget also seeks to boost intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities “while funding Air Force Weapons System Sustainment (WSS) at 85% with mandatory funding,” the service has stated in a release.