EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 The 2025 Amigo Airsho has been canceled, Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Michael V. Soyka announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
The decision comes as a result of the ongoing government shutdown and furlough. <\/p>\n
Officials said that at the last hour, Ft Bliss was notified that Airshow\u2019s event at Biggs Field was not approved.<\/p>\n
Fort Bliss officials said they had to cancel all community outreach that\u2019s not related to national security due to the ongoing government shutdown.<\/p>\n
Col. Michael Soyka of Fort Bliss said, “This decision was not made by the local commander or the event organizers. It stems from federal law, and so the administrations role is to make sure we don’t violate the anti deficiency act, which dictates during elapsing funding we can only do events that are related directly to national security or safety.”<\/p>\n
Soyka adds, performers who were already at the military base would head home Friday or Saturday. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery last one of us is grateful to Ft. Bliss, Col. Michael Soyka, and the garrison command leadership,\u201d said Alan Russell, MountainStar Sports Group Amigo Airsho chairman. \u201cWe also thank you, our community partners: sponsors, volunteers, vendors, performers, and the public media for your support to include the wonders of aviation in your mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event was originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. <\/p>\n
The Amigo Airsho Committee said they look forward to presenting the Navy\u2019s Blue Angels to celebrate the United States\u2019s 250th birthday next year, in 2026.<\/p>\n
The Amigo Airsho Committee said they will honor people who had tickets for next year’s show.<\/p>\n
For those requesting refunds, the committee said it will send out an email to patrons who purchased tickets.<\/p>\n
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar took to social media<\/a> to raise concerns regarding why this event got cancelled when other military events have been able to continue.<\/p>\n Tens of thousands of El Pasoans and visitors from across the region have been looking forward to the Amigo Airsho, a fantastic family event that the El Paso community and our military installation were hosting. The announcement that Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s team at the Department of Defense rejected Fort Bliss\u2019s request to move forward with the event (despite the lapse in government funding) is hugely disappointing.It would be one thing if every single military event hosted in collaboration with a community across the country were forced to cancel, but that\u2019s simply not the case. While hundreds of volunteers, donors, and members of our military are having to face a canceled event in El Paso, members of the administration, including Secretary Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance, will be attending and celebrating at an event at Camp Pendleton.My office has inquired why some military events have been allowed to proceed but not El Paso\u2019s.I\u2019m grateful to Fort Bliss leadership and our soldiers, as well as the hundreds (if not thousands) of El Pasoans who volunteered, donated, and worked so hard for this year’s AirSho, all of whom are no doubt deeply disappointed.<\/p>\n KFOX14\/CBS4 spoke to El Pasoans who had mixed reactions on the decision. <\/p>\n One person said, “Personally I believe that like it doesn’t necessarily, I don’t believe it’s necessary for us to have this show if we are barely even paying our troops. You know like they’re the ones that are flying them and we’re not even paying them.”<\/p>\n Camila Torres Cardoza said, “Well, I think that for local vendors that were invited to that event, it could bring like a disbalance to their economy. So yes, I think it was maybe disrespectful also towards the families who were excited about the event.”<\/p>\n Other residents said they are sad about the decision, since many families were looking forward to the event. <\/p>\n RELATED: Amigo Airsho set to soar at Biggs Army Airfield this weekend<\/a><\/p>\n