Too many civilian employees have opted to apply for the proffered early retirement and cash buyout programs at Hill AFB, Utah, at least by official reckoning of the number the base can afford to let go. On the first day, there were more than 700 applications. The Washington Post reports that the number is up to 1,100, and there’s still a week to go. Base officials told the Post that they likely would only accept 350 applications—that is what they think will be the base’s fair share of the coming service-wide personnel cuts.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…