Niagara base could again face closure

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Billions of dollars in belt-tightening by the Defense Department is threatening the future of the Niagara Falls Air Base for the second time since 2005.

In five years, the Defense Department will cut almost $500 billion. Cuts range from a reduction of feet on the ground to the number of planes in the air.

The threat of closure for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is again up in the air. Defense secretary Leon Panetta must cut nearly $500 billion from the military's budget, and some of that will come from closing Air Force bases, nationwide.

"In this budget, we plan to gradually resize the active Army. Our intense review determined that we could reduce, streamline and standardize our air fleet with minimal risk," said Panetta.

He also announced the C-130 cargo planes, used for transport, would be retired.

Vice Chairman of the Niagara Military Affairs Council John Cooper said, "We have remained vigilant on behalf of this base."

He notes this is the only Air Force base in the state and says thousands of dollars have already been used to upgrade the facility.

"That does make New York State a target. Not necessarily this base, but certainly we are very concerned anytime we see the military is going to cut back," said Cooper.

The government has not announced what bases will be closing. Chairman Merrell Lane says there are other places the military could look at cutting. But with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq now over and the increased use of satellite and unmanned drones, Lane implied the writing is on the wall.

"If you look at the figures, it, it's kind of leaning toward the smaller bases like Niagara being on the list," said Lane.

Thousands of people are employed at the one base. If it were to close, it would have a big impact on jobs and an even bigger blow to the finances of western New York. Lane says it would be a $168 million loss for the region.

"Along with losing the jobs," said Lane, "that's a lot of money that goes back into the community that would be lost."

Representatives Kathy Hochul and Louise Slaughter say that they will continue their fight to keep the base open. Hochul said it's an important part of the military and our national security.