Northwest Florida Lawmakers Push Back on Air Force Plan to Relocate Special Ops Wing

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Northwest Florida leaders are pushing back against the U.S. Air Force’s plan to relocate the 492nd Special Operations Wing from Hurlburt Field and Duke Field to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The move would shift roughly 600 jobs and require new hangars and infrastructure to support the unit.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis, along with Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, has sent a letter to the Department of the Air Force questioning the decision. Lawmakers say the relocation could weaken national security by moving Special Operations personnel farther from the Caribbean, where they argue tensions are increasing.

The Air Force first announced the proposal in 2023, citing mission effectiveness and cost efficiency. Patronis, however, says the financial impact is still unclear. He is asking the Air Force to detail the full cost of relocating the wing and whether the investment is the best use of taxpayer dollars. Officials have 30 days to respond.

Patronis also points to the effect on servicemembers and families who have built their lives in Northwest Florida. Local leaders say uprooting hundreds of highly trained personnel could cause significant disruption and question whether the move aligns with current strategic needs.

Patronis says he wants more transparency and a clearer explanation of the Air Force’s reasoning before the relocation moves forward.