JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Local military families are on alert after the USS Gettysburg deployment was delayed due to budget cuts.
Lori Shrader was planning her roommate's going-away party. He was due to deploy Friday on the USS Gettysburg. Shrader's roommate and the other sailors on the Gettysburg at Naval Station Mayport found out Wednesday that budget cuts are keeping the ship docked.
So instead of a happy sendoff, sailors have no idea when they'll even ship out. Shrader says her roommate wasn't given many details.
"He said I'm not sure. I was just told today the deployment scheduled in two days is now cut," said Shrader.
Navy leaders made the decision because they're facing a budget uncertainty. If Congress can't pass a budget, the Pentagon will absorb $46 billion in spending reductions.
Top U.S. leaders say these cuts damage the economy and degrade the military's ability to respond to a crisis. That's what worries Shrader. While she's happy there will still be customers she's worried we're more vulnerable.
"We're scared cause they're staying not shipping out to protect us. They're the Navy," said Shrader.
Action News has also learned helicopters from the HSM-74 helicopter squadron were also stalled.
