The U.S. Navy has announced that sequestration budget cuts are forcing the cancellation of this year's "Navy Week" public relations efforts that would have brought teams of sailors and their equipment to 18 cities around the country.
Minneapolis was on the list for July 15-21, which is during the nautical-themed Aquatennial festival.
The Navy says during Navy Week brings "a wide array of sailors and equipment to an American city":
That may include Blue Angels, the Navy Parachute Team (the Leap Frogs), Navy bands, divers, construction units (SEABEES), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Teams, namesake ship crews, hometown sailors, Navy medical personnel, historical displays and artifacts, interactive displays and simulators, and senior Navy leaders.
"Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans living throughout the country the investment they have made in their Navy, and its role in preserving the nation’s security and prosperity," said the Navy statement.