Communities around Fort Campbell are asking residents to write or sign letters to the U.S. Army in an effort to stave off significant cuts at the sprawling Army post that straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.
The Army said in July that Fort Campbell could lose half its civilian and military workforce -- about 16,000 people -- and take an economic hit of $863 million if maximum cuts in both budget and force size are reinstated in 2016. That's twice the amount as originally projected.
Clarksville, Tennessee, Mayor Kim McMillan said residents can sign pre-written letters or write their own.
Christian County, Kentucky, Chamber of Commerce official Kensley Marcus said the letters are a way to tell Army officials how cuts would negatively affect the area around the post.