Should Congress fail to avert the threat of sequestration by March 1, the Navy鈥檚 top officer warns that the naval fleet will be forced to put an end to 鈥渘early all non-deployed operations.鈥�
This could 鈥渦ltimately prevent鈥� carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups from deploying, added Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of Naval Operations, in a memo issued earlier this month.
Navy commanders have also been ordered to cancel repair of nearly all piers, runways, buildings, and other facilities through September, as well as most ship maintenance at private shipyards except for critical repairs 鈥渇or safety and security.鈥�
Like the Army, the Navy is terminating temporary employees and implementing a temporary hiring freeze, reducing the Navy鈥檚 shipyard force by some 10 percent.
鈥淭his is a big deal for all those yards that have been hiring,鈥� Craig Quigley, executive director of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, told the Virginian-Pilot. 鈥淭his completely pulls the rug out from under them.鈥�
Commanders have been ordered to curtail all temporary travels as well as 鈥渄uties and professional training not deemed mission essential, to include attendance at conferences and seminars,鈥� according to Admiral Greenert's memo.
He pointed out that little expenditures add up, too, and directed his officers to 鈥渞educe utilities consumption to the maximum extent possible鈥� and 鈥渟top minor purchases that are not mission-essential, such as furniture, information technology, and unit equipment.鈥�
No more parties, either. 鈥淐eremony expenses shall be similarly limited,鈥� Greenert said.
