Virginia Lawmakers Move to Stymie JFCOM’s Closure

Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Va.) has introduced a bill to block the closure of US Joint Forces Command that Defense Secretary Robert Gates mooted in August. The Virginian-Pilot reported that Nye’s legislation, if adopted, would prevent JFCOM from shuttering until Gates provides Congress with a detailed analysis of the budgetary and military impact of the shutdown. The command is headquartered in Nye’s Congressional district around Norfolk and Suffolk. Nye is not alone. Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D) last week pledged to introduce a similar bill in the Senate. “A decision of this magnitude poses significant implications for joint training and the development of joint warfighting capabilities that are essential for successful 21st Century combat operations,” Webb stated in a release. He added, “Any proposal to close or realign the command should be guided by a clear process and analytical basis that everyone can understand.”