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)
The Guardians of the 11th Space Warning Squadron were honored as the top U.S. Space Force unit for 2024 for their role in thwarting Iranian missile barrages last year.