US Dist. Judge John R. Padova in Philadelphia said Tuesday that he would provide a ruling quickly in the lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania over the Pentagon’s BRAC proposals regarding the state’s ANG units, including the 111th Fighter Wing at JRB Willow Grove. The state maintains the governor must approve any changes to ANG units. Gov. Ed Rendell said he was “optimistic” after the Tuesday hearing. The Justice Department, however, has sided with the Pentagon on this one. Several similar lawsuits are cooking in other states.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
