Delegation: cancel carrier move to Fla.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Members of Virginia's congressional delegation say the Pentagon should cancel the proposed move of an aircraft carrier from Virginia to Florida with Defense Secretary Robert Gates directing the military to trim defense spending.

In a letter dated Thursday to Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus, Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb and four Virginia congressmen call the move of a carrier from Naval Station Norfolk to Mayport, Fla., unnecessary and costly.

They maintain 10 percent of the $10 billion defense cut sought by Gates could be achieved by leaving all five East Coast carriers in Norfolk.

The Pentagon has proposed moving a carrier to Florida for national security reasons.

The proposal has drawn loud protests in the Hampton Roads area.