Tillis Demands Answers From Air Force On Attempt To Dismantle 440th Airlift Wing | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is pressuring Secretary of the Air Force, Debra Lee James, to explain why the Air Force is prematurely proceeding with its plans to dismantle the 440th Airlift Wing (AW) at Fort Bragg, which violates the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015.

    Tillis submitted an official statement through the Senate Armed Services Committee in which he noted the difficulty he and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) have had in holding a private meeting with Secretary James. Such a meeting was scheduled in February, but was then subsequently canceled by the Air Force because of inclement weather. Since then, Air Force schedulers have curiously proposed meetings in Washington D.C. on days when the Senate is out of session and both Senators will be back home in North Carolina.

    Tillis is demanding answers on several questionable and contradictory actions taken by Air Force leadership, including why airmen at Pope are being told to transfer if a decision on the 440th AW has supposedly not yet been made; whether the Air Force consulted with the Army leaders at Fort Bragg before making the decision to de-activate the 440th AW; why the Air Force is proceeding to dismantle the 440th, in violation of the NDAA of 2015, which requires the Air Force to report to the Senate on it plans for the future of its C-130 fleet before any movement of the fleet may occur; and why the Air Force has failed to release the metrics used to determine why Pope is a lower priority than other airfields in the Air Force with no comparable tactical mission.

    SENATOR TILLIS' STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD

    440th Airlift Wing at Pope Army Airfield

    Earlier in the year, I had extensive discussions with the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE about the future of the 440th Airlift Wing at Pope Army Airfield. During his confirmation hearing, Secretary Carter publicly committed to look into the matter and sit down with my office and discuss the 440th's future.

    I am distressed that in spite of the commitment, the Air Force leadership is proceeding to finalize this matter before the Secretary of Defense has had a chance to fulfill his public assurance.

    First, the Carl Levin National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), requires the Air Force to report to the Congress on the service's future C-130 force structure. Congress is then given sixty days to respond to that report.

    General Welsh said it is undergoing changes and has not been officially approved by Secretary James, much less provided to Congress as required by the NDAA. My understanding is that the report ill-advisedly calls for the dismantling of the 440th.

    Second, in contravention of the spirit of the NDAA, the Air Force has already begun removing airmen from the 440th - before the report has even been provided to Congress, much less Congress having an opportunity to respond. The 440th command recently held an all hands meeting to help airmen look for other jobs.

    A spokesman for the Air Force Reserve said that last year's law says nothing about moving airmen and pilots out of Pope-it only requires the planes to stay. That does not pass the laugh test unless the Air Force Reserve Command expects the Pope C-130s to be converted to drones-no pilots, no air wing.

    Third, last month the commander of the XVIII ABN Corps, General Joseph Anderson, said that "of all places to cut, why would they [the Air Force] take that capability away from Fort Bragg?" Fort Bragg leadership says it was not consulted.

    The response of the Air Staff is: we don't check Air Force decisions with Army three stars.

    I am disturbed that in spite of Secretary Carter's commitment to sit down with me and discuss the future of the C-130s, the Air Force will have dismantled the unit leaving us nothing to discuss.

    I have asked for a private meeting with the Secretary of the Air Force along with my senior colleague, the Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Burr. Our first meeting was canceled due to the change in the scheduling of the Senate Air Force posture hearing.

    Since that time, Air Force schedulers have proffered prospective times for a new Washington meeting when both Senator Burr and I are in North Carolina. We stand ready to meet the Secretary in the state if her schedule will not accommodate us in Washington.

    QUESTIONS FOR: SECRETARY JAMES

    If the Air Force has not reached a decision on the future of the 440th, why are airmen at Pope being told to transfer elsewhere?

    Is this decision in keeping with the intent of the Senate Armed Services Committee as made clear in the NDAA regarding the mandatory report on the future of the C-130 fleet?

    It is not sufficient to say the Air Force consulted with Army Headquarters at the Pentagon regarding the future of the 440th. Did the Air Force consult with its clients, the leadership of the XVIII ABN Corps, the 82nd ABN, and USASOC before making the decision to de-activate the 440th?

    I have asked for the metrics used to determine why Pope is a lower priority than airfields that have no comparable tactical mission-no metrics have been delivered. When will the Air Force provide this information?

    Is it the Secretary's intent to discuss the future of the 440th with North Carolina's Congressional delegation?




    Contact: Meghan Burris
        Press Secretary

    Contact: Daniel Keylin
        Communications Director

          Daniel_Keylin@tillis.senate.gov  •  (202) 224-6342