In a bipartisan 64 to 34 vote late Wednesday, the Senate decided to keep funding for more C-17 airlifters, trouncing an effort led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to strip the 2010 defense spending bill of the $2.5 billion for 10 additional C-17s (see below). According to press reports (see Reuters news service report and Los Angeles Times report), McCain said he would continue his fight to end production of USAF’s newest airlifter. The Senate and House still must reconcile their two bills; the House version includes additional funding for three more C-17s. (How the Senators voted)
Dick Cheney’s Legacy with the Air Force
Nov. 6, 2025
Dick Cheney, who died Nov. 3 at 84, is best remembered by most Americans as among the most powerful Vice Presidents in history, a consummate Washington insider who had previously served in the Nixon administration, was Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, a Congressman for a decade, and Secretary…


