major issues
Military Mission Line
The Military Mission Line Needs the Protection of Law, Not Just an Executive Order
The Military Mission Line (MML) exists today only because of an Executive Order — not federal law — and that distinction matters. The MML protects critical test and evaluation areas in the Gulf of America that give our military the only operationally representative geographic space to stress-test cutting-edge weapons systems against evolving global threats. The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 placed a moratorium on oil and gas leasing east of the MML through 2022, and the Biden Administration’s 2024–2029 Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program extended that protection further. But newer federal plans — including a Department of Interior initiative to loosen offshore energy restrictions and a draft Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plan that includes leases in the Eastern Gulf — put that protection at risk. ECMAC is engaging directly with congressional leaders to see the MML codified into permanent law, so this mission isn’t left exposed to a future policy reversal.
Spectrum Encroachment
5G’s Growth Shouldn’t Come at the Cost of Military Radar and Missile Defense
Congress has restored the FCC’s authority to auction wireless spectrum for 5G and future commercial technology — and the FCC is now proposing to auction additional mid-band spectrum (the upper C-band, roughly 3.98–4.2 GHz), with competitive bidding targeted for as early as July 2027. The Department of Defense depends on that same spectrum for military radar systems and missile defense, including the Spectrum Warfare mission based at Eglin. Moving those military users to different bands isn’t a quick fix — it could cost billions of dollars and take decades to complete. ECMAC is working to ensure DoD’s operational needs are protected as the FCC’s spectrum policy process moves forward, so 5G expansion doesn’t come at the expense of national defense readiness.
More issues on the horizon
The Military Mission Line and spectrum encroachment are the two issues ECMAC is actively engaging on today, but they’re not the only ones facing our military community. Housing availability, childcare access, and healthcare capacity for military families are all on ECMAC’s radar, along with longer-term concerns like talent retention and range encroachment. As ECMAC formalizes its advocacy priorities on these fronts, this page will grow to reflect that work.