Louisiana state lawmakers are wasting no time positioning Central Louisiana as a home for the Department of War’s proposed “Next Great American Base,” pushing U.S. Senator John Kennedy to lobby federal defense officials for the massive installation during an Alexandria update.
A City-Sized Military Footprint Proposed for Vernon Parish
The push unfolded on Wednesday, October 28, at the Randolph Riverfront Center, where Senator Kennedy delivered a Federal Issues Update hosted by regional leaders, KALB reported. During the public question-and-answer session, Vernon Parish State Representative Charles “Chuck” Owen urged the senator to advocate for the sprawling military installation locally.
The project stems from a September 30 directive issued by the Secretary of War, outlining plans for a “super base” officially dubbed the Next Great American Base. According to defense officials, the installation will span between 100,000 and 250,000 acres, designed to house up to 25,000 service members while operating entirely self-sufficiently.
At the maximum projected size of 250,000 acres—equaling roughly 217,408 acres according to the census for Dallas, Texas—the installation would be larger than Dallas, Texas. The Department of War states the facility is meant to “counter compounding multidomain threats and provide a posture for rapid global power projection.”
Weighing Existing Acreage Against New Construction
Representative Owen, who chairs Louisiana’s Committee on Military Affairs and serves as a retired military officer, argued that Vernon Parish already possesses the vital infrastructure and land availability required under the federal criteria. He noted that the Department of Defense previously absorbed 50,000 extra acres in Vernon Parish a decade ago, leaving a massive foundation already in place.
“It’s not that we need another base, but 10 years ago, the Department of Defense came and took 50,000 extra acres from us in Vernon Parish,” Owen said during the briefing. “They’ve already got 250,000 there. That’s what Secretary Hegseth said they wanted.”
Proponents point to Fort Polk and expanding federal operations at the England Airpark in Rapides Parish as evidence of deep community support and established logistical capabilities. Owen emphasized that Fort Polk’s active troop numbers have dwindled from 16,000 soldiers down to approximately 6,000 over the past thirty years, leaving vast tracts of federally utilized space available for repurposing.
Democratic Opposition Creates Obstacles for Base Funding
When pressed by Owen to champion the region, Senator Kennedy offered immediate agreement, telling the lawmaker, “I will.” He later added context on federal spending priorities, stating that expanding the defense budget remains necessary to compete globally with foreign powers like China and Russia.
Securing the funding and congressional approval required to build the Next Great American Base faces distinct political friction. Kennedy noted that opposition from congressional Democrats—stemming from broader policy disagreements regarding conflicts in Iran—presents a significant obstacle to boosting military expenditures.
State applications and pitches from governors detailing land availability, infrastructure capacity, and cost factors are due by the spring of 2027, with a final selection scheduled for June. Meanwhile, Representative Owen plans to bring formal legislative discussions regarding the pitch to the Louisiana State Legislature when it reconvenes on April 12, 2027.
