Defense cuts impact Iowa guard units - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

A spokesperson from Sioux City's 185th Air Refueling Wing says they're looking for guidance from the federal government after the US Senate approved a 633 billion dollar defense bill that includes billions in cuts, on Friday.

The bill will eliminate all F-16 jets and 32 positions based at the Des Moines Air National Guard Base.

U.S. Senators approved the bill Friday by an 84 to 14 vote.  Both of Iowa's senators voted against the measure.

Guard spokesman Colonel Greg Hapgood said earlier this year that the cuts could also mean Sioux City's 185th Air Refueling Wing would lose one of it's nine KC-135 refueling tankers.  On Sunday, he said that the net effect of the cuts won't be as drastic as originally thought in Iowa. 

In fact, Hapgood said that Sioux City will likely get to keep all of its planes.  However, there could be minor changes at the Sioux City base, depending on how the federal government implements its plan.