In addition to causing thousands of layoffs the federal sequestration claimed another victim– the 2013 Wendover Air Show, said event organise Jim Petersen this week.
“We were really hoping we could save it,” Petersen said. “But all military exhibitions have been grounded including the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. Instead of struggling to put something together this year, we decided to cancel and put our efforts into a first class air show next year.”
The sequester or sequestration refers to budget cuts to particular categories of federal spending that began on March 1, 2013 as an austerity fiscal policy. The cuts were enacted by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and initially set to begin on January 1 but that date was postponed by two months by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The spending reductions are approximately $85.4 billion during fiscal year 2013, with similar cuts for years 2014 through 2021.
The cuts are split evenly between the defense and non-defense categories.Some major programs like Social Security, Medicaid, federal pay (including military pay and pensions) and veterans’ benefits are exempt. Medicare spending will be reduced by two percent per year versus the planned levels.
Already the sequestration was blamed for thousands of layoffs mostly of civilian employees working either directly for the US military or for businesses with military contracts. Civilian workers at military installations are considered the most vulnerable to the sequestration.
In addition to layoffs the belt tightening hit military exhibitions such as Air Shows hard.
“It isn’t just Wendover, its all over the country,” said airport manager Richard Brown.
In April The U.S. Navy announced it was canceling all the air shows its Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron had scheduled for the rest of the year. The Navy action follows the Air Force’s announcement that its Thunderbirds team would not perform again this year.
“Recognizing budget realities, current Defense policy states that outreach events can only be supported with local assets at no cost to the government,” said a statement Tuesday from the office of the Commander Naval Air Forces in San Diego. “This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them.”
The Navy, Air Force and the rest of the federal government must deal with $85 billion in cuts for the rest of fiscal year 2013, which ends September 30, that were mandated by a 2011 agreement by Congress that raised the federal debt ceiling.
The Air Force had said earlier this year that air shows can cost bases $100,000.
While expensive exhibitions are probably one of the best forms of public relations for the US military, Petersen said.
“Words really can’t describe how it feels seeing our jets and our pilots up close. Hopefully by next year we can see them again.”
The Wendover air show has been a perennial favorite for tourists and local alike. It has attracted thousands of visitors since it began in 1990.
With the Harley ride to Wendover it became the second major public event to be cancelled this year.
