The Obama administration is determined to kill the A-10, according to the Office of Management and Budget. In the Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 4435 – Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2015, the administration states that it “strongly objects” to provisions which would save the A-10.
The Obama administration notes that it is opposed to any measure that “would restrict the Department’s ability to retire weapon systems and aircraft platforms in accordance with current strategic and operational plans,” including the mothballing of the low and slow flying Warthog aircraft.
The statement reads in part:
Limitations on Retirement of Weapon Systems: The Administration strongly objects to provisions that would restrict the Department’s ability to retire weapon systems and aircraft platforms in accordance with current strategic and operational plans. These divestitures are critical and would free up funding for higher priority programs. Specifically, the Administration strongly objects to sections 131, 132, and 1026, which are inconsistent with DOD’s fiscal constraints and current priorities. Section 132 would restrict DOD from obligating or expending funds to retire A-10 aircraft. Divesting the A-10 will save over $4.2 billion through FY 2019. The joint force will retain several multi-mission aircraft capable of performing the close air support mission. The Administration also objects to the Committee authorizing Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding for the continued operation of the A-10 fleet. Longstanding criteria for OCO eligibility clearly exclude such uses.
On May 7th, Arizona congressmen Rob Barber and Trent Franks, who serve on the House Armed Services Committee, voted in favor of an amendment proposed by Barber to save the A-10 for at least FY 2015. The amendment passed 41-20.
Franks, who is an engineer by trade, later said he recognized the unique capabilities of the low and slow flying plane which has saved the lives of so many troops on the ground.
The administration also is objecting to a provision that would prevent base closings. “The Administration strongly objects to section 2711, which would preclude any funds being authorized for use toward an additional BRAC round,” reads the statement. “The Administration strongly urges the Congress to provide the BRAC authorization as requested, which would allow DOD to rightsize its infrastructure while providing important assistance to affected communities. Without authorization for a new round of BRAC, DOD may not properly align the military’s infrastructure with the needs of our evolving force structure, which is critical to ensuring that limited resources are available for the highest priorities of the warfighter and national security.”
Should the administration succeed in winning the ability to close bases, one of the homes of the A-10; Tucson, Arizona will surely suffer. Home of the Davis Monthan Air Force base, Tucson is the 8th poorest metropolitan area in the country, and Davis Monthan contributes approximately $1.6 billion to the local economy.
Sources have long been warning that should the Air Force win the right to destroy the A-10, Davis Monthan will be targeted for closure in 2017.
In February 2014, Barber called on the Obama administration to save the A-10. Barber had gathered a bipartisan handful of colleagues to ask President Obama to intervene.
In a letter to the president, Barber and his colleagues wrote: “As you prepare the budget for fiscal year 2015, we strongly recommend and ask that you fully fund the operation, maintenance and upgrade of the A-10 Thunderbolt II. Full funding will ensure this proven workhorse continues to fly and provide unmatched support to our men and women on the frontlines.”
“The A-10 is solid, reliable and inexpensive to maintain,” Barber wrote in his letter to the president. “It flies low and at slow speeds, providing unique and punishing firepower at extremely close distances with a durability that can take incoming fire in the hottest of battlefields and return home to fight another day.”
New electronics have been installed on A-10s and over the past few years, the Air Force began installing new wings on all the planes. The rewinging has been completed on all A-10s based at D-M. The new wings and electronics were touted as cost-effective ways to extend the life of the planes until at least 2028.
Chief Master Sergeant (retired) and congressional candidate Chuck Wooten said, “The statement by the Obama White House that retiring the A-10 “would free up funding for higher priority programs,” demonstrates this administration’s inability to properly prioritize our National Defense needs.”
“I would argue with the White House and the DoD bureaucrats that there is absolutely NO higher priority than our troops lives–which the A-10 continues to routinely save,” said Wooten.
“Just reported today, Sen. Carl Levin has indicated that the Senate Armed Services Committee has “found hundreds of millions in budgetary offsets to keep the venerable attack planes flying.” In other words, they have located money to cut without dipping into our war fighting dollars. This money will not risk the lives of a single troop and I strong insist the Senate press forward with their approval of continued A-10 funding–even under the threat of an Obama veto,” concluded Wooten.
According to Politico, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and others on his panel advocating for the A-10 say they’ve found a way to keep the Warthogs flying for another year.
Politico reports that the “Michigan Democrat told reporters that an amendment with his backing will be offered during the full committee markup to fund the A-10s in fiscal 2015, reversing the Air Force’s plans to retire the fleet,” and his support for the A-10 “significantly boosts the chances the attack jet will be funded in the Senate’s defense authorization bill and will be flying into 2015.”
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