The Navy has turned down a Virginia congressman seeking retirement benefits for laid-off sailors.

Rep. Scott Rigell’s (R-Va.) district includes Hampton Roads, and he’s a member of the Armed Services Committee. Fox News reported he asked the Navy to postpone the layoff dates for a year. That way, 172 of the affected sailors would be eligible for retirement pay after 15 years of service.

But the Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, said no. Buskirk said a delay would hamper the Navy’s efforts to balance its force profile. The Navy had earlier found it was over-manned in certain job classifications. It’s laying off 3,000 sailors altogether.

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