Idaho’s Air National Guard Squadron must be preserved

Preserving Air National Guard (ANG) fighter units—importantly, the Idaho National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron—is a priority as the United States continues to face external threats from adversaries like Russia, China and Iran. These highly-trained, experienced and prepared forces are a key piece of our country’s defense. I am working closely with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to preserve ANG units’ critical role in our national security, and the USAF’s recent announcement that the 124th Fighter Wing would receive an F-16 Fighting Falcon mission at Gowen Field beginning in 2027 was a welcome development in this effort.

I partnered with fellow Senators representing states home to other ANG fighter squadrons, including fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, in introducing the Fighter Force Preservation an Recapitalization Act. This legislation would prevent the closure of ANG fighter squadrons at a time when pilot and maintenance manning are at critically low levels. The ANG represents 33 percent of the Air Force combat fighter force and is responsible for 94 percent of homeland defense missions. On average, the pilots and maintainers in the ANG are twice as experienced as their active duty counterparts. Unfortunately, since 1987, the Air Force fighter fleet has been reduced by 60 percent. The Air Force is moving to divest many of the ANG legacy equipment, including A-10s and older F-16s, without a plan to recapitalize them with advanced aircraft.