US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has proposed budget cuts for the military which could shrink the Army to levels not seen since before World War Two. Hagel says the cuts are a necessary resizing for current threats in the world.

South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem is a member of the Armed Services Committee, and says base closings are on the list too…

 

Ellsworth Airforce Base near Rapid City survived the last round of base closings.

Noem says the proposed cuts are alarming…

 

Noem does say that the military is big enough that some “smart cuts” could be made…

 

Noem spoke to the AP government class at Yankton High School yesterday (Wednesday).