This is the main entrance to the Arnold Air Force base in Tullahoma, Tenn.
Arnold Engineering Development ComplexNEAR-TERM BUDGETARY ACTIONS
In January, memos from U.S. Air Force commanders provided their subordinates a list of near-term actions to address the federal government’s “uncertain budget environment ahead.”• Implement a temporary civilian hiring freeze and release current temporary and term employees with exceptions for mission-critical activities.• Review overseas contingency operations requirements and identify potential reductions that will not impair wartime operations.• Cancel all travel that is not mission-critical, such as conferences and staff assistance visits and training seminars.• Curtail flying not directly related to readiness.• Curtail or cancel ongoing and scheduled studies that are not congressionally directed or mission-critical.• Limit supply purchases to essential fiscal 2013 consumption and stop minor purchases that are not mission-critical.• Defer nonemergency Facility Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization projects.• Where practical, de-obligate or incrementally fund severable service contracts that cross the fiscal year only to Oct. 31, 2013, and defer the remainder of those contracts.Sources: U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, U.S. Department of Defense
Officials at Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tenn., and military installations around the world are preparing for a projected $1.8 billion shortfall in Air Force funding as the battle over the federal budget continues in Washington, D.C.
Actions that could begin as soon as April include a civilian hiring freeze; cancellation of nonessential travel, flying activities and studies; limitation of coming-year supply purchases; deferred sustainment, restoration and modernization projects; and to “de-obligate or incrementally fund” service contracts, according to officials.
For Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma, there won’t be a significant loss of existing employees but there also will be no new hires. Otherwise, military officials still will be battening down the financial hatches, AEDC spokesman Jason Austin said.
“The guidance that came out [from Air Force Materiel Command] basically instructed us to let go of all our temporary employees,” Austin said. “Here at Arnold, there were only two temporary employees, and one of those temporary employees had already given his two-week notice.”