Because of the government shutdown the U.S. military did not participate in the Pacific Airshow in Los Angeles on Oct. 3-5. The included the Navy Blue Angels, shown here flying over Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia in September 2025. (Soley Reed/U.S. Navy)
AUSTIN, Texas — Food vendors were setting up their stations and pilots were doing final practice runs at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss last week when the garrison commander called a news conference. The Amigo Airsho — scheduled to start the very next morning — was canceled because of the ongoing government shutdown.
“This decision was not made by the local command or the event organizers. It stems directly from federal law,” Col. Michael Soyka, garrison commander of the west Texas Army base, said during the news conference Oct. 17. “During a lapse of funding, we can only do those events that are related to national security or safety. Really this is not a decision that was made by an individual, it is a government-wide fiscal law requirement, and we have to comply with it.”
The last-minute cancellation of the event — which was organized by MountainStar Sports Group, not the Army — highlighted how difficult it can be to discern what is and isn’t allowed as the government shutdown stretches beyond three weeks.
Vice President JD Vance, second left, and second lady Usha Vance, fourth from left, watch a demonstration by Marines during activities to mark the upcoming Marine Corps' 250th anniversary Saturday, Oct 18, 2025, on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Gregory Bull/AP)
Meanwhile, in California, the Marine Corps held a live-fire demonstration of amphibious capabilities at Camp Pendleton followed by a “beach bash” for the community on the same day Amigo Airsho was set to begin. It was attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran.
A news release for the Camp Pendleton event stated the White House Production Office planned to gather footage to include in a national prime-time broadcast set to air Nov. 9 to mark America’s 250th birthday.
The Pentagon and Camp Pendleton did not comment on why this event was allowed during the shutdown. It could be that officials used a social media post from President Donald Trump on Oct. 3 to authorize a Norfolk event marking the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marine Corps.
When asked about a larger order from Trump to allow anniversary celebrations during the shutdown, the White House responded with a link to Trump’s post.
The U.S. Navy Band and U.S. Naval Academy Band march through the streets of Philadelphia during the Navy and Marine Corps 250 parade, Oct. 13, 2025. (April Enos/U.S. Navy)
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen, and Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Billings and USS Cooperstown transit the Delaware River on Oct. 9, 2025, during a parade of ships in celebration of the Navy’s 250th birthday in Philadelphia. (Chad Butler/U.S. Navy)
The Navy also was allowed to hold a weeklong celebration in Philadelphia for its anniversary, which featured four Navy ships open for public tours, flyovers and demonstrations from sailors and Marines. In ended when the ships departed Oct. 16.
Across the country, local commanders are weighing what they can and can’t do.
The Navy announced cancellation of its open-house-style event, Meet the Fleet, scheduled during San Diego Fleet Week. Organizers of the massive maritime celebration will decide Oct. 27 what to do if the shutdown persists to Fleet Week’s first event on Oct. 30 and the military is forced to pull out of more scheduled activities.
This year’s fleet week is also intended to celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, according to organizers. If the services don’t show, just two events would go on as planned.
When the government shutdown began Oct. 1, the Amigo Airsho planners knew they would lose military performers but thought the show could continue since Fort Bliss is simply the venue, Alan Russell, chairman of the event’s board, said during a news conference.
The decision cleared hurdles all the way up the chain to Washington, where officials ultimately sent back a cancellation notice the day before the event kicked off, he said.
“The government has a mandate that during a shutdown, that engagement with the community is not on their agenda. They’re to pull back all civilian engagement and conduct themselves strictly as a military entity,” Russell said.
The cost to Fort Bliss to host the two-day ticketed event would have been “minimal,” according to officials at the garrison command. It would have included personnel already working in flightline operations and some additional police and fire personnel to accommodate the expected daily attendance of roughly 30,000 people.
Instead, Soyka and Russell both encouraged the community to look ahead to the 2026 Amigo Airsho, which is scheduled to have the Navy Blue Angels perform.
“We understand how disappointing it is,” Soyka said. “The Amigo Airsho has always represented the spirit of cooperation, patriotism and family that makes our region so special. We are confident once funding is restored and conditions permit that we will continue to build upon that tradition together to make next year’s event even more special.”
