Bipartisan BRRRRT Act would force US Air Force to retain at least 126 A-10 Warthogs

Published Jul 22, 09:10 PM UTC

A bipartisan House bill, the BRRRRT Act (H.R. 9780), introduced by Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.) and co-led by Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), would compel the U.S. Air Force to maintain at least 126 A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs, significantly more than the current congressional floor of 103. The bill aims to reverse the Air Force's divestment efforts, including the closure of the A-10 maintenance depot at Hill Air Force Base, the end of pilot training, and the winding down of the Weapons School course. It requires the defense secretary to certify that a fully operational replacement exists—with written concurrence from the Army, Marine Corps, and SOCOM—before any further retirements. The legislation follows heavy A-10 involvement in operations in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and reflects ongoing congressional resistance to the Air Force's plan to retire the aircraft without a confirmed successor for close air support and combat search and rescue missions.