Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Jane Harman have introduced legislation that “explicitly prohibits” the Air Force from reducing the number of AFSPC military, civilian, and contractor support personnel that existed on Jan. 1, 2006. (See above.) The measure would require the service to submit a report on any proposed Space Command cuts that would outline the plan, provide justification, make an assessment of the impact, and certify that the reduction “does not diminish” the command’s programs for acquisition, operations, and technology development. The lawmakers believe that cuts to AFSPC will jeopardize the command’s ability to put back on track several vital space programs that have been criticized for cost excesses and technological immaturity.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
