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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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BlueAngels.jpg
The Blue Angels have more than 30 events scheduled for the latter half of 2013, including Seafair in Seattle the first weekend in August. Congressional budget inaction could ground them. (Peter Carnicelli/U.S. Navy, AP file photo)

Congress might shoot down Seafair's Navy Blue Angels

January 30, 2013 @ 3:30 pm (Updated: 3:43 pm - 1/30/13 )

The U.S. Navy is bracing for billions of dollars in cuts if Congress fails to agree on a budget by the end of March.

Without agreement on reducing the budget, mandatory cuts known as "sequestration" will be enacted.

Sequestration would force the Navy to cut all funding to the aerial demonstration squadron for the third and fourth quarters of 2013, according to a brief from Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert.

U.S. News and World Report obtained the budget brief.

That means no blue and gold F/A-18s screaming through the skies. The Blue Angels have more than 30 events scheduled for the latter half of the year, including Seafair in Seattle. The precision flying team is already committed to Seafair weekend, August 2 - 4, 2013.

The Navy needs to slash $4.6 billion from its operation and maintenance funds if Congress fails to come to a compromise.

Even if the sequestration is settled in Washington, the Department of Defense's budget will still decline, according to Greenert.

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (36)


  • Add A Comment

  • R L M 456 wrote...
    NO Problem-Here is the solution
    January 30, 2013 8:18 pm
    Seattle will just pay for it out of General fund Money

    maybe we could all just pay another $10 ea on our downtown parking meters

    Oh- I forgot

    noboby goes downtown anymore

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  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    My Two Cents...............
    January 30, 2013 8:28 pm
    I wouldn't miss the Blue Angels....sorry.

    But while we're at it, let's look into the Senate and the House members dry cleaning bills. I'll bet we can trim some fat there?! snark

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Dry Cleaning and
    January 30, 2013 9:57 pm
    Dominican Escort Service bills too
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Cut the Blue Angels
    January 30, 2013 11:16 pm
    take that money and throw it into the ObamaCare welfare pot!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    Boehner threatens to ruin Seafair
    January 31, 2013 5:15 am
    thats the real headline.

    Or maybe "Norquist threatens to ruin Seafair". We know who pulls the strings in the House, lobbyists.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    Hate to see the T-Birds and Angels go
    January 31, 2013 9:03 am
    ..but the nation is in a financial tailspin. We can't afford to support their acrobatic tailspins for now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Love the Blue Angels...
    January 31, 2013 9:31 am
    ...and have no problem with funding being cut.

    But first, how about it if the Obama administration stops giving away our jet fighters to radical Islamist governments?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    Why every year?
    January 31, 2013 12:36 pm
    Why not once every 2 or 3 years? C'mon. Really? You have to have the ability to look at things differently when the country is broke. And yes, the country is broke. But no. We did it this way 20 years ago. By gum, it will be infinitum.
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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    tell mcginn to pull out the shoebox of cash from the secret shelf under his desk.
    February 1, 2013 12:39 am
    and make it happen. lots of people bike out to this event I hear.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Thank you Obama
    February 1, 2013 10:13 am
    Yet another thing American that we can kiss goodbye thanks to our overspender-in-cheif.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • avianartist wrote...
    $$$$
    February 3, 2013 3:25 pm
    If the taxpayers money isn't being spent on one thing it's going to be wasted on something else...that'll never change! The bottom line is if the POTUS was willing to cut costs by traveling around the world via the U S military then the Blue Angles wouldn't be on the "hit list". To me, the Blue Angles are a symbol of a great sovereign nation and what it took to get that way. Those of you who have never served, but enjoy your freedom probably can't appreciate that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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