Cruz partners with Democrats to protect military bases like Ellington

One of the oldest military aviation installations in Texas is at risk of losing a powerful tool because of the ongoing war in Iran.

That has U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joining forces with Democrats, to craft legislation that would prevent the Air Force from repositioning MQ-9 Reaper drones and personnel stationed at Air National Guard installations like Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, just south of Houston.

The MQ-9 drones have been called the “most valuable player” during Operation Epic Fury in Iran because of their ability to strike targets without putting pilots at risk. But dozens of the drones have been destroyed in the fighting, depleting the total number of available units.

While the Air Force hasn’t announced any plans to move the MQ-9 drones from Air National Guard Bases, Cruz and others are responding to concerns that it could happen to offset the losses in Iran.

While the drones have been critical abroad, they’ve also been MVPs closer to home, Cruz said.

“In Texas, they were invaluable after the devastating July 4, 2025, floods, when the Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Attack Wing deployed the MQ-9 to support search, rescue, and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River,” Cruz said about the bill he filed on Wednesday with U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin as co-sponsors.

The 147th Attack Wing, which is estimated to have more than 1,000 soldiers, is based at Ellington. The air base is one of the oldest in Texas, and was established during World War I.

Ellington isn’t the only base that could be affected if the drones are moved to Air Force Special Operations Command. Units in California, Arizona, New York on elsewhere could be impacted, which is why Kelly, from Arizona, and Slotkin, from Michigan, have joined on with Cruz’s legislation.

“The message is simple: don’t take away missions from the National Guard until you have a plan to replace it,” Slotkin said.