“The A-10 is the red-headed stepchild of the Air Force.”
The Air force is being forced to choose between which of its many children it must sacrifice due to 30 years of major budget cuts. There are many Air Force officers who understand and respect the need to keep a dedicated close air support mission alive in the Air Force, but they are being sidelined by these budget cuts. Look at how long the Air Force has been waiting to replace its dangerously aging air tanker fleet. This disaster waiting to happen affects all of the combat and air transport aircraft, including the A-10. Anyone who wants to support the A-10 needs to demand the earmarked funding to do so.
It might not mean much; the F-22 got iced [arguably because it was too good at its purpose of Air Superiority] and the A-10 is good at its job [Close Air Support] too.