The U.S. Air Force is scrapping its plan to move a fighter jet squadron to Anchorage from Fairbanks, and will not put Eielson Air Force Base in warm status, Alaska’s congressional delegation announced Wednesday.

U.S. Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski made the announcement on a joint teleconference with U.S. Rep. Don Young, all of whom had joined community leaders in protesting the plan since Air Force first announced it nearly two years ago.

Begich said this is not a one-year decision, but a longterm win for Eielson after military leaders rebalanced bases in the Pacific region. “Eielson is a critical part of that, proven by this decision today,” he said.