Shaheen Leads New Hampshire Delegation Letter Urging Air National Guard to Exempt Critical Safety Roles from Planned Reduction to Civilian Employees
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are urging General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to exempt critical safety roles, including firefighters and air traffic controllers, from its planned 10.7% reduction to federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG). More than half of the civilian employees at Pease Air National Guard Base are civilian emergency personnel and air traffic controllers and the proposed cuts could devastate the important role Pease plays in supporting emergency services in the region, including at Portsmouth International Airport.
In part the delegation wrote, “Of New Hampshire’s 96 Title 5 civilian employees, 51 are firefighters or air traffic controllers. In addition to the Air National Guard, these safety personnel provide services to the Portsmouth International Airport (KPSM) – a critical strategic asset.”
The delegation continued, “Any reduction to civilian air traffic control in the United States will compound an existing national, potentially deadly, safety issue. In fiscal year 2024, the Army faced its highest mishap rate since 2008; and the Air Force hit its highest in three years in fiscal year 2023. This also comes as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is facing a historic shortage of air traffic controllers – and needs to hire 3,000 more to meet current demand.”
The delegation concluded, “A misguided and hurried reduction in force in New Hampshire will have long lasting safety and operational impacts not just to our state, but across the country. We urge you to exempt these critical public safety roles from any reduction in force without proper analysis and consultation with Congress.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
Since President Trump took office, the New Hampshire delegation has worked to protect civilian workers that play a critical role in maintaining U.S. national security. In March, the U.S. Department of Defense exempted the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze, following efforts from Shaheen and the delegation.
Shaheen continues to advocate for members of the New Hampshire National Guard, including by pressing the National Guard Bureau to exempt New Hampshire from any changes to its personnel who operate and maintain the KC-46. Due to Shaheen’s advocacy, the Guard Bureau granted New Hampshire an extension to implement the policy. The FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included a provision from Shaheen that would require the Guard Bureau to grant a similar extension to any state who requests one, and report to Congress on any operational impact of future force re-leveling.
Congresswoman Goodlander toured Portsmouth Naval Shipyard earlier this week and secured a critical amendment in the House-passed FY 2026 NDAA to help end the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze that’s leaving the shipyard understaffed and risking their essential work.
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