Fort Bragg to lose 842 troops in military cuts
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- Officials say Fort Bragg will lose a net of 842 soldiers in Army cuts announced Thursday.
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC) - who represents the base in Congress - blasted the news.
"Further cuts are not the answer, especially at Fort Bragg as it is home of America's contingency corps and the U.S. Army's most critical installation," said Ellmers in a statement. "These cuts take us backwards -- and at a time when there are mounting threats abroad, it is all the more imperative the U.S. maintains a robust military."
The cuts are part of a plan by the Department of Defense to shrink the Army by as much as 40,000 soldiers and 17,000 civilians by the end of 2017.
The news is relatively good for Fort Bragg, which is home to about 53,000 troops. The cuts amount to less than 2 percent of Bragg's soldiers.
There had been speculation the base could lose tens of thousands.
The cuts would reduce the Army's total manpower to 450,000 troops.
