Akin criticizes Air Force cuts

Congressman and U. S. Senate candidate Todd Akin criticized recommendations for proposed Air Force cuts in Missouri today. Congressman Todd Akin, Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding proposed Air Force cuts to Missouri Air National Guard units. The Air Force has proposed cutting over 200 jobs at the Air National Guard unit at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis as well as about 50 Air National Guard jobs in St. Joseph, Missouri and over 40 civilian Air Force jobs at Whiteman Air Force Base. Additionally, over 500 active duty Air Force personnel will be cut from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Congressman Akin released the following statement: “These cuts will hurt the Missouri Air National Guard. Over 200 positions from Jefferson Barracks alone will negatively impact the Guard and families around the St. Louis region that depend on income from serving their country in the Missouri Guard. Unfortunately, these cuts are a result of the defense budget cuts announced by the President in February. “The only part of the federal government that President Obama and his Democrat allies are willing to cut is defense. This results in a weaker military in dangerous times, and means we are sending airmen to the unemployment line. This administration is firing those who have served our country honorably. This is not the way the Missouri National Guard or airmen in the Air Force should be treated, and it is not the way that our national security should be handled.”