So, we’ve spent 25 million a year training, or rather, certifying pilots to carry a gun. Since they should pretty much all be trained or certified by now what need is there for this program at that level. I’m not sure, since the author doesn’t explain (he’d rather try to play Dashiell Hammet on the internet) why the program needs to funded at the current level.
OMG! now they’ll be no TSA union-hacks protecting us from 90 year old ladies that might be hiding bombs in their diapers.
I believe the point is that the program is already underfunded at its present level. Also, flight deck personnel change; they retire, move on, even change their professional status such as become flight instructors, start their own charter service or go into cargo (which requires no such program).