In an op-ed published in the July 14 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Republicans Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Sen. Johnny Isakson write that opponents to continuing production of the F-22 Raptor “aren’t waging war: They’re waging obfuscation.” The two Senators have posted on their respective Web sites an Air Force fact sheet prepared to rebut errors in recent news reports. The Senators explain that even though USAF senior officials agree with limiting the F-22 buy to just 187 aircraft, “the service certainly has an interest in owning planes that are safe to fly.” Their op-ed goes through several of the recent allegations of technical and maintenance issues, countering each one. (If you haven’t already, read more in our coverage The F-22, Bagel and a Smear and And, the Air Force’s Take, as well as Chicago Rules and “Not So Much a Study”)
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.
