It's been far from a secret that the USAF hates the A-10 - they have since it's inception but have been unable to get rid of it because it keeps demonstrating that IT WORKS!
More on the line of a good negotiating gambit when budget cuts come around. The A10 Mafia always find some more money to save it.
We have to cut the A-10, to save the KC-10 fleet....
We have to cut the A-10, to save the C-5A fleet....
We have to cut the A-10, to save the B-1 fleet....
We have to cut the A-10, to save the etc....
At the end of the day more cash is found, the A-10 is saved, as are the other assets proposed to be cut.