New Hampshire Delegation Urges Exemption for Critical Safety Roles from National Guard Reduction

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Senator Maggie Hassan (NH), and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) have joined forces in a letter to General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to exempt critical safety roles, including firefighters and air traffic controllers, from the planned 10.7% reduction in federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG). This drastic cut threatens the vital work of Pease Air National Guard Base, which supports emergency services in the region, including at Portsmouth International Airport. The delegation highlighted the crucial role of these safety personnel in maintaining national security, citing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers and rising safety issues in the military.

Key Takeaways:

• The proposed 10.7% reduction in federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG) threatens the important role of Pease Air National Guard Base, which supports emergency services in the region.
• Over half of the civilian employees at Pease Air National Guard Base are civilian emergency personnel and air traffic controllers, who would be severely impacted by the reduction.
• New Hampshire's 96 Title 5 civilian employees include 51 firefighters and air traffic controllers, who provide critical services to the Portsmouth International Airport.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is facing a historic shortage of air traffic controllers, requiring the hiring of 3,000 more to meet current demand.
• The Air Force faced its highest mishap rate in fiscal year 2023, while the Army recorded its highest rate since 2008 in fiscal year 2024, highlighting the urgency of addressing safety concerns.
• The delegation urged General Nordhaus to exempt critical public safety roles from any reduction in force without proper analysis and consultation with Congress.
• The New Hampshire delegation has worked tirelessly to protect civilian workers who contribute to maintaining U.S. national security, including recently securing an exemption from the civilian hiring freeze for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce.

Statistics:

• 10.7%: The planned reduction in federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG)
• 51: The number of New Hampshire's Title 5 civilian employees who are firefighters or air traffic controllers
• 96: The total number of New Hampshire's Title 5 civilian employees
• 3,000: The number of additional air traffic controllers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to hire to meet current demand
• 2023: The year the Air Force recorded its highest mishap rate in three years
• 2008: The year the Army last recorded a higher mishap rate
• 2024: The year the Army faced its highest mishap rate since 2008

Sources:

• Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) office
• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) office
• Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) office
• Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) office