The Air Force confirmed this week that it is shuttering a vital airlift wing at Fort Bragg, N.C., that trains the Army’s airborne and special operations forces, prompting outrage from the state’s lawmakers.
The Air Force finally submitted on Tuesday its “Report on C-130 Force Structure” to Congress after its release had been delayed since January. Units such as the 440th Airlift Wing at Fort Bragg’s Pope Army Airfield fly the C-130s to prepare airborne forces for emergency operations overseas.
The report affirmed that the Air Force would close the 440th, which it said would save $116 million during a time of severe budget constraints for the military. Lawmakers raised concerns last year when the Air Force began transferring airmen from the reserve unit before providing the report to Congress.
