WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association issued the following statement regarding the personnel cuts announced today by the U.S. Air Force. Last week, 49 governors delivered a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and issued a statement highlighting the value of the National Guard and opposing the disproportionate cuts facing the Air National Guard as part of the U.S. Air Force’s fiscal 2013 budget request.

“The announcement today reinforces governors' concerns that the U.S. Air Force’s budget proposal would be detrimental to the National Guard. On top of proposed equipment reductions announced last month, today’s proposed personnel cuts will dramatically alter the ability of the National Guard to respond to emergencies and protect citizens. A highly experienced and capable force, the National Guard is essential in responding to domestic disasters and emergencies as well as completing critical missions abroad. The Guard has always been an efficient, less costly force to achieve these multiple missions. Governors remain strongly opposed to the disproportionate personnel and equipment cuts and urge the Air Force to work with them to find alternative solutions to maximize capabilities at the lowest possible cost.”

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Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, go to www.nga.org.