In the defense appropriations measure approved on July 20, Senators took a heavy swipe at some troubled space programs. They chopped $230 million from the Transformational Satellite Communications program “due to concerns over the amount of program growth,” said the panel’s release. It went on to note that, “due to uncertainties” about the Space Radar program, it sliced $100 million from the Air Force request. As for the Space-Based Infrared System, it managed to avoid a cut.
Air Force leaders are directing unit commanders to conduct four “standards and readiness reviews” of their troops per year starting March 31, part of a recent push for new standards and enforcement.