The 2008 war supplemental submitted by the White House to Congress amounted to around $145 billion, but this week House Democrats say that next month lawmakers will have to consider adding another $40 billion on top of that, reports Peter Cohn of CongressDaily. The original supplemental request only covers the Iraq surge of troops through Sept. 30 and there are additional expenses, such as getting new mine-resistant vehicles to Iraq. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, provided the $40 billion estimate, while Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, cited slightly less, around $30 billion. However, they both told Cohn the numbers are “unscientific” at this point. In addition to MRAPs, the Pentagon also seems inclined to purchase additional C-17 airlifters—although some Senators who favor C-5s are questioning this move—and more Army helicopters, among other war-related items.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.