F-16 UNIT: House Bill Keeps Fighter Wing

The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a step towards keeping the 132nd Fighter Wing flying.

The House passed a temporary spending bill Thursday that blocks the Department of Defense from retiring any Air Force aircraft in the next year. That includes the Iowa Air National Guard’s 21 F-16′s based in Des Moines.

It is estimated 400 jobs would be lost in the Des Moines area if the F-16 unit was shut down.

The Senate will now consider the bill.