USAF Damages A-10 Readiness, Senators Warn James
U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and nine other senators sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James raising concerns that the Air Force has taken actions that have damaged A-10 readiness and endangered the Air Force’s ability to meet combatant commander requirements, and demanding corrective measures.
Despite Congress’s repeated rejection of the Obama Administration’s efforts to prematurely divest the A-10 fleet, the Air Force continues to make dramatic cuts to A-10 depot level maintenance and funding, which threatens the capability of this vital aircraft to deploy to missions across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
“We are concerned that the Air Force has taken steps inconsistent with Congressional intent that are degrading the readiness of the A-10 fleet and endangering the Air Force’s ability to meet combatant commander requirements,” the Senators write. “The Air Force has a responsibility to follow Congressional intent and to meet combatant commander requirements. We believe these Air Force actions are inconsistent with both of those obligations. When considered cumulatively, we worry that these steps represent an attempt by the Air Force to conduct a gradual backdoor divestment of the A-10 fleet.”
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