Scott, Gaetz concerned Air Force may move special ops command out of Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – Florida Republicans Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Matt Gaetz voiced worries about the Department of Air Force potentially moving their Special Operations Command off of Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County.

Scott reportedly said that he, along with Gaetz and fellow Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, were informed by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall that a Friday meeting needed to be scheduled to discuss “programmatic basing actions” involving Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

“We have said we would be willing to talk any time but have heard nothing,” Scott said. “We think they are probably talking about Hurlburt, and I assume they are talking about Special Forces.”

These assumptions come as Special Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Jim Sifle addressed his airmen and provided them resources after a report showed claims of racial disparities in the Air Force.

“We have busted our butts,” Scott said. “I have never heard from anybody in the military saying we are not fulfilling our military’s needs in Florida.”

“We are going to do everything in our power to prevent the Biden Administration from playing politics,” the senator said.

Gaetz stated that he would work very closely with Scott to make sure that Kendall did not move the Special Ops headquarters out of the state.

“To me, this is suspicious,” the Florida congressman said. “There is nothing to show Florida is not the best location to house these commands.”

“I will never let @JoeBiden play politics with Florida’s military presence,” Scott said in a tweet. “Hurlburt’s mission is critical to our national security and communities in NWFL. We’ll fight like hell to protect it.”