ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) - Word out of Washington this morning is that 750 Air National Guard and active duty Air Force Jobs, plus some 40 civilian jobs are on the Air Force chopping block.

Congressman Todd Akin, Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, said  the Air Force has proposed cutting over 200 jobs at the Air National Guard unit at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis as well as about 50 Air National Guard jobs in St. Joseph, Missouri and over 40 civilian Air Force jobs at Whiteman Air Force Base. Additionally, over 500 active duty Air Force personnel will be cut from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

“These cuts will hurt the Missouri Air National Guard. Over 200 positions from Jefferson Barracks alone will negatively impact the Guard and families around the St. Louis region that depend on income from serving their country in the Missouri Guard. Unfortunately, these cuts are a result of the defense budget cuts announced by the President in February.”

Akin said this will result in a weaker military in dangerous times, and means sending airmen to the unemployment line.

“This is not the way the Missouri National Guard or airmen in the Air Force should be treated, and it is not the way that our national security should be handled.”

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