Flying Into the Unknown: The ACES Act and the Hidden Cancer Risks for Military Pilots
“Over the past several years, With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus have stood with me in the fight to pass the ACES Act, legislation that takes a critical step toward uncovering the long-term cancer risks facing our nation’s military aviators and aircrew. Their support reflects a shared determination to back up our words with action and deliver, on a bipartisan basis, for those who have risked everything to defend our country."
Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) Member of the For Country Caucus & U.S. Air Force reservist
A Landmark Step Forward
On August 14, 2025, the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act became law, a pivotal step forward in uncovering and confronting the hidden cancer risks faced by America’s military aviators and aircrew.
With Honor Action joined this effort early on, supporting the legislation following its 2022 introduction by Representative August Pfluger (R-TX), a For Country Caucus member and Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. The ACES Act ensures our nation takes responsibility for addressing and understanding the dangers faced by those who’ve spent their careers in service, gathering critical data that identifies causes and improves the care for our service members who have dedicated their military careers to defending our skies.
From Cockpit to Congress
In March 2025, Rep. Pfluger’s friend and fellow fighter pilot Colonel (retired) Andrew “Pablo” Shurtleff testified before Congress about the urgent need for the ACES Act. During the hearing, he recounted how his career as an F-22 fighter pilot was cut short by a cancer diagnosis, illustrating the very risks the legislation seeks to address. Less than two months later, on May 23rd, Pablo passed away at just 48 years old after a six-year battle with stage IV kidney cancer. His death gave profound weight to the cause he championed, turning what might have remained a statistic into an unmistakable call to action for those who once flew for our nation and now face a second battle on the ground.
When Pablo was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, he was at the height of his strength: training for a Half Ironman, preparing for his next promotion, and serving at peak performance. Instead of taking flight, he found himself grounded, fighting for his life, and confronting a system that had yet to recognize the risks his service had created.
For Pablo and thousands of aviators like him, this is more than a personal health crisis. It is a matter of duty, a question of how our nation can ask its service members to face hidden, preventable risks without taking every possible step to safeguard them. The ACES Act represents part of With Honor Action’s commitment to actionable solutions for those who have served our country.
Veterans Leading the Charge: A Bipartisan Effort to Confront Cancer Risks for Aviators
A study released in 2023 by the Department of Defense found that military pilots and aircrew had a roughly 24% higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer than the general U.S. population, with elevated incidences of cancers such as prostate, testicular, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and melanoma.
These findings underscored what many in the aviation community have long suspected: that years of exposure to radiation, jet fuel, and other hazardous materials may carry lasting health consequences. For lawmakers who have worn the uniform, the data was more than alarming; it was a call to act.
The ACES Act (H.R. 530 / S. 201) was reintroduced earlier this year on a bipartisan, bicameral basis by For Country Caucus members Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), a Navy veteran, along with Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a Navy veteran and With Honor Action ally, and Tom Cotton (R-AR), an Army veteran, and was endorsed by both With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus.
The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study of cancer incidence and mortality among aviators and aircrew who served in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. By examining patterns, exposures, and potential causes, it aims to deepen our understanding of these elevated risks and guide improvements in screening, prevention, and care for veteran pilots and aircrew.
At the End of the Day
The ACES Act is an example of what’s possible when military veterans in Congress lead with principle and purpose. In a time often defined by division, this legislation proves that shared service can still inspire shared commitment. By coming together across party lines, veteran lawmakers demonstrated that protecting those who’ve worn the uniform transcends politics: it’s a national responsibility.
Beyond its symbolism, the ACES Act delivers tangible progress. It compels the federal government to confront a long-overlooked issue with data, transparency, and accountability. The findings it produces will guide improvements in prevention, early detection, and care, laying the groundwork for stronger protections for military aviators and aircrew.
For With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus, the passage of the ACES Act reflects a broader mission: advancing results-driven, bipartisan solutions that honor service and strengthen trust in government. Legislation like the ACES Act is how principled, veteran leadership delivers lasting impact, by turning shared experience into shared action and ensuring that no one who served is left to face invisible risks alone.