House Approves Budget that Could Delay 911th Closure

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a $640 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2013 that includes a provision delaying aircraft retirements at Moon's 911th Airlift Wing. 

The House voted 299 to 120 to approve the , which includes an amendment that would halt pending Air Force aircraft transfers and retirements, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

The bill authorizes defense spending for weapons and aircraft, according to the newspaper. 

The Air Force  the 911th for closure because of the age of its fleet of C-130 tactical aircraft, which were manufactured in the 1960s. The closure, which is set to take place in 2013, is a part of a plan to reduce the Air Force's 2013 spending by $8.7 billion. 

The closure will eliminate each of the base's 1,100 military and 280 civilian personnel positions as well as its eight C-130 aircraft. 

Defense Department regulations governing military base closures and realignments require that Congressional approval is needed before bases employing 300 or more civilians to be closed. Local lawmakers maintain that 311 civilians work full-time at the 911th; the Air Force claims on 281 are employed at the wing.

If passed, the defense budget would delay the closure of the 911th for one year, according to the Post-Gazette. Click here for the full story.