# 119-s-4373: Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act

119-s-4373, Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-05-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4373
- As of: 2026-05-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4373
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-22
- Sponsor: Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-05-14

## Summary

**Creates a pilot that lets experienced active-duty Air Force fighter aircrew take a one-time, time-limited career intermission to test whether targeted breaks reduce early separations and keep experienced pilots and navigators in staff and leadership roles.** The program would focus on officers in the 11F and 12F career fields who have completed their initial training service commitment. - Fighter aircrew who qualify could enter an intermission lasting between 4 months and 1 year, transfer temporarily to the Individual Ready Reserve, and must complete periodic inactive-service training to maintain military skills and fitness. - Wing commanders may limit participation for mission needs and members scheduled to deploy cannot start an intermission until they return or the deployment is canceled; existing active-duty service commitments generally will not block eligibility. - Returning aircrew get expedited onboarding within 30 days and incur an active-duty service commitment equal to twice the intermission length; intermission time does not count toward retirement eligibility or certain reserve transfers. The Secretary must report on outcomes within 4 years and the pilot ends after 5 years.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] (R-MO), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- No promotion penalty for participants: benefit, medium. This bill would bar using program participation as a negative factor in promotion boards, assignments, career development opportunities, or selection for intermediate and senior education. The law would direct that current promotion rules guide consideration and eligibility for participants. Partic…
- Service time, retirement, and return rules: mixed, high. This bill would make any break time not count toward military retirement eligibility or retired or retainer pay. When you return from a break, you would incur a new active-duty service commitment equal to twice the length of the break (for example, a 6-month break would add 12 months). The Secretar…
- Pay, housing, and access during break: mixed, medium. This bill would let participants keep pay and allowances under current law while on the break, subject to the program rules. Participants in government housing could stay in their residence, but they would be responsible for rent during any period when Basic Allowance for Housing is suspended. The…
- Career break pilot for fighter aircrew: mixed, low. This bill would require the Air Force to start a pilot program within one year to let experienced 11F and 12F officers take a temporary career break. The Defense Secretary would issue rules within 180 days. The pilot would end five years after it starts and the Air Force must report to Congress wit…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-s-1547: America the Beautiful Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-4373 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4373)

## Related
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1261)
- [119-s-1547: America the Beautiful Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1547)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4373 (as of 2026-05-14).