Virginia reps promise fight on JFCOM closure
Published: August 18, 2010
This afternoon Reps. Randy Forbes, Glenn Nye, Bobby Scott and Rob Wittman have planned an open forum with local officials in Suffolk to talk about the potentially devastating effect the closure of Joint Forces Command could have on the local economy and national security. The lawmakers see it as the opening round in what could be a lengthy fight to undo significant budget cuts outlined by the Pentagon earlier this month.
Last week the lawmakers, along with Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates questioning the legal basis for his budget cuts, saying that Congress needs to weigh in on the issue before any base closing moves can occur. Pentagon officials insist they can make the changes without getting lawmakers' approval.
The House members have also publicly stated the move will result in "the future erosion of our military’s joint warfighting capabilities, and the dismissal of thousands of highly skilled civilian federal employees and defense contractors."
JFCOM includes about 2,800 military and civilian workers, and another 3,000 contractors. Gates said its responsibilities will likely be reassigned to other agencies, with most of the department employees being relocated but the contracting jobs being jettisoned.
The forum will take place at 3 p.m. today at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center.
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