Under heavy pressure to find real cuts, Navy officials are seriously considering decommissioning a nuclear aircraft carrier halfway through its planned lifespan, two Pentagon sources confirmed.
George Washington's three-year-long refueling overhaul, scheduled to begin in 2016, would be canceled under the scheme, and the ship would be decommissioned as its reactor fuel ran out.
Along with the carrier, the Navy could also disband one of its 10 carrier air wings - a move which would save roughly as much money and people as cutting the ship.
Decommissioning GW would leave the Navy with a 10-ship carrier fleet, a move which would need to be approved by Congress. U.S. law currently mandates an 11-ship force.
Navy officials would not confirm or deny the story.
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Thursday Oct 6, 2011 19:27:16 EDT