A popular air show at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland -- next scheduled for May 2014 -- has been cancelled, officials announced Thursday.
The event, officially known as the Joint Service Open House (JSOH), was last held in 2012. It had been moved from an annual to a biennial schedule, but the next scheduled event has now been nixed for budget reasons.
"We will miss the interaction that JSOH allowed us to have with our friends in the community, but this decision will save more than $2 million in tax dollars," said Colonel Bill Knight, 11th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander.
The move comes a month after the Department of Defense announced a plan to reduce outreach activities by 45 percent. The effort is expected to save about $1 billion over the next decade.
Officials said in a press release that a decision about future events has yet to be made.
This isn't the only air show to feel the effects of budget constraints.
All 2013 performances by the Blue Angels were cancelled earlier this year due to sequestration. The move was said to save the Navy about $20 million, although the military -- and civilian vendors -- lost revenue from food and other sales to attendees.
In addition, the Air Force's Thunderbirds entire 2013 season also was cancelled in March. The military is no longer performing flyovers at baseball games or many other major events, and the Air Force said they would not show off planes at trade shows, flyovers and open houses.
ALSO SEE:
