Budget impasse delays scheduled ship repairs

Operating without an approved budget, the Navy is shedding upcoming shipyard repairs and warning of looming cuts to new ship construction such as Virginia-class submarines and littoral combat ships.

Since Congress hasn’t passed a budget for fiscal 2011, the Navy is operating under the previous year’s funding levels, which amounts to a $5.7 billion cut.

“We are in the process now, regrettably, with having to cancel some maintenance availabilities because I can't exceed the budget limits that have been placed on us because of the continuing resolution,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead said in a keynote speech Thursday to the American Society of Naval Engineers.

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