Prohibit Deactivation of the ECABs Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill stops the Army from closing or shrinking special helicopter units called Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades through the year 2031. These units provide important air support during combat and other missions.
• If the Army wants to make changes to these units, they must first prove to Congress that they have a plan to replace the equipment and keep the same number of soldiers. They cannot cut these units just to save money without a backup plan.
• The bill also forces the Army to bring back any of these aviation units that were already shut down or reduced before this law was passed. This must happen within one year of the bill becoming law.
• The Army would be required to create a long term plan to update and maintain the aircraft used by these units within six months. This ensures the helicopters and equipment stay modern and safe for soldiers to use.
• To help pay for these requirements, the bill suggests spending 35 million dollars in 2027. This money would specifically go toward training pilots and keeping the aircraft flying.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.