Contrary to an Oct. 16 report in The Hill by Roxana Tiron, the Air Force Association does not side with certain House Armed Services Committee members who are trying to derail a provision in the 2008 defense authorization bill that would put the Air Force in charge of all fixed-wing transport. And, we understand that the Air Force believes other lawmakers—those who wonder why the Army wants its own tactical airlift capability—are on the mark. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently questioned the Army about this issue, which revolves around the Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft program. Perhaps Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), and Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) are out of touch with the rest of the House armed services panel, considering its chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), cited duplication in tactical airlift forces as one basis for starting a new roles and missions scrub.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
