EL PASO- With cuts to the military budget, what does it mean for Fort Bliss and the borderland? Fort Bliss has not announced whether they expect to lose any troops.
Jason Brown served a year in Iraq. He says that the cuts to the military budget should not come as a surprise.
"I don't think this could be a shock. Maybe to some people it is, but honestly you have to cut the budget somewhere, and I think that this is a good time to do that considering that we ended the war in Iraq,” said Brown.
Many businesses around Fort Bliss rely on troops stationed at Fort Bliss for sales, so cuts to the military could mean big problems.
The Final Touch Barber Shop next to Fort Bliss says that most of their customers are soldiers on the post.
"We have about 80 percent of customers from Fort Bliss, and like when they were deployed about three months ago, we lost a lot of business,” said stylist Oscar Gonzales.
Troop reductions on Fort Bliss would mean less business for the barber shop or any business that relies on Fort Bliss customers.
"They could hurt you know, like those cuts because every time they cut the budget, it is going to hurt somebody. so for us, if something like that happens, we'd shoot to start bringing business concentrating more on locals,” said Gonzales.
The Defense Department also plans to raise healthcare fees for military retirees. Brown says those who have served our country should continue to receive their same benefits.
"You want to raise the cost for troops that have already served honorably and were promised something. I think those promises should be up held,” said Brown.
The new military budget cut is not a done deal. It could still face changes before a final vote in Congress.
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