A B-1 of the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron awaits the queue to begin taxiing in support of Bomber Task Force 25-1 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Feb. 4, 2025. U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Alec Carlberg
Hegseth puts Air Force reorganization on hold
Service chief Gen. David Allvin previously emphasized the need to move out quickly.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told the Air Force to pause its planning for a sweeping overhaul until the service’s Trump-administration secretary and undersecretary are in place and have reviewed the effort..
“On Feb. 6, the Secretary of Defense directed the Department of the Air Force to pause all planning actions connected to its Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition efforts,” a service spokesperson said. “The planning pause remains in effect until a Senate-confirmed secretary and under secretary of the Air Force are in place and have the opportunity to review the initiatives. The Department of the Air Force welcomes the opportunity for our new leaders to assess all ongoing actions and ensure compliance with DoD directives. We will issue clarifying guidance, as necessary,” the spokesperson said. Air & Space Forces Magazine first reported the order.
A year ago, Air Force officials rolled out a slew of changes to prepare for a fight against China, including changing the way the service deploys forces. The spokesperson said that the pause won’t reverse actions already taken under the effort.
But it will halt planning for a host of new initiatives, including a modernization command and a huge exercise to test its new deployment model.
A defense official familiar with the pause order said that the service is “fully onboard” and “welcomes” the incoming civilian leaders’ review of progress in and planning for the reorganization.
“Despite this temporary planning pause, the logic behind the realignment remains,” the official said. “Specifically, the DOD at large continues to face a significant, dangerous shift in the strategic security environment. To confront this new strategic environment, the Air Force took action, focused on mission readiness and deterrence, to deliver cross-functional, lethal combat capabilities required to defend our nation, as well as to match capabilities with the threats we face…and to do it fast.”
It’s unclear how long the pause will last. No confirmation hearing has been set for Troy Meink, the former NRO official who was tapped to lead the Department of the Air Force, and Matt Lohmeier, who was picked to be Air Force undersecretary.