Navy releases updated budget plan, cuts

WAVY TV

Updated: Feb 22, 2013 1:41 PM

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Navy released a list of cost-saving moves Tuesday as the country inches closer to stiff budget cuts.

That plan includes canceling the USS Bataan (LHD 5) ARG deployment and delaying the Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG deployment. The Navy would also reduce spending on ships, aircraft weapons and R&D by $7.75B.

Training programs for new pilots and flight officers would be reduced and Midshipmen summer training programs would be canceled.

Document: Navy continuing resolution and sequestration

Among the cuts is the canceling of ship maintenance for 11 ships based in Norfolk including the USS Oscar Austin, USS Porter, USS Laboon, USS Forrest Sherman, USS McFaul, USS Winston S Churchill, USS Jason Dunham, USS Barry, USS Wasp, USS Dwight D Eisenhower and the USS SHAMAL.

According to the Navy these potential actions would have a significant impact. The Navy would be unable to meet approved deployments. 21 ships and submarines are scheduled to deploy from Virginia between now and the end of the fiscal year.

Furlough is a possibility due to the delayed maintenance in public shipyards and reduced hours at military facilities. Navy civilians could lose up to 20 percent of salary through furlough. Hundreds of temporary workers would be out of jobs later this year and a civilian hiring freeze would go into effect.

Blue Angel Air Shows would be canceled across the country.

The Navy says local economies would be hurt by job losses and a damaged industrial base. The budget cuts would also reduce our military presence around the world and our ability to respond to a crisis. The cuts to maintenance would reduce the service life of ships as well.

The military will be forced to cut billions from its 2013 budget if Congress doesn't act by March 1.

Hampton Roads and the District of Columbia would be among the areas most hurt by the looming federal budget cuts, according to a report released Monday by Wells Fargo Securities.

The sequester was first set to begin taking effect on Jan. 1. But as part of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, the White House and lawmakers agreed to delay it two months. With little progress, President Barack Obama is calling for the sequester to be put off again.

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