The Air Force is still planning to downsize a base in western Massachusetts, but talks will continue between state officials and the Pentagon.
Congressman Richard Neal hosted a meeting in Washington Thursday with Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James to talk about the future of the Westover Air Force Reserve Base in Chicopee. Half of the bases fleet of 16 C-5 cargo jets are to be transferred to a base in Texas in 2015, with the resulting loss of 300 jobs. Neal said James agreed to review proposals from the state’s military base task force to increase commercial activity at Westover.
" It bears noting there is not any discussion of closing Westover or Barnes. That is not on the agenda anywhere."
No cuts have been proposed at the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. The Pentagon must cut $487 billion over the next eight years.
