According to Reuters news service, an independent review commissioned by the Air Force finds that the service’s plan to establish a multiyear procurement program for the last 60 F-22As will not be the big money saver USAF had expected. That news confirms the view of many lawmakers, who expressed skepticism over the plan. Reuters obtained Air Force correspondence to Congress that indicated the actual savings would be less than half the original estimate of $500 million. Influential lawmakers earlier this year questioned both the legality of and justification for the proposal, asking for a more complete analysis upon which to base their decisions.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.