U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Marinette Marine/Released
The future littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) conducts acceptance trials on Lake Michigan, Dec. 6, 2018. Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship, an adaptable platform designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Thursday that the first Fleet Week in Houston, originally scheduled for November, has been postponed due to the federal government shutdown.
“It’s disappointing that Fleet Week Houston had to be rescheduled because of the government shutdown,” Whitmire said in a news release. “I want the city’s first Fleet Week to be an exceptional experience for everyone. The date changes help to ensure we have the time and resources to plan an extraordinary event.”
Whitmire said the event has been postponed until next year, but a specific date has not yet been set.
Fleet Week Houston had been scheduled for Nov. 5-12 of this year. The event would have celebrated the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard, with each branch bringing in ships and aircraft for the community to observe.
The event would have coincided with the 250th birthdays of both the Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy was founded on Oct. 13, 1775, while the Marine Corps was founded a few weeks later on Nov. 10, 1775. If the event takes place next year, it will instead coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The announcement of the delay comes as the U.S. government is in its fourth week of the shutdown.
The shutdown has also caused delays at the Port of Houston, with most customs officials at the port being considered essential workers.
Earlier this week, Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport had to issue temporary ground stops due to air traffic controller staffing issues stemming from the shutdown.