FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) - A Washington think tank says two South Carolina airports could be among more than 100 nationwide forced to close if $1 trillion in federal budget cuts take effect in January.
The Florence Morning News reports that the Center for American Progress estimates the automatic cuts to domestic and defense programs could close airports in Florence and Columbia.
The $1.2 trillion in cuts over a decade were agreed to last summer by congressional Republican leaders and President Barack Obama.
The think tank estimated the impact of a 10 percent cut to the Federal Aviation Administration and thinks the agency would have to furlough more than 2,000 air traffic controllers.
If the layoffs protected airports with more than 600,000 passengers per year, that could hit Florence and Columbia.
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