Training drills for tens of thousands of Army National Guard members from New Hampshire to Hawaii have been called off this weekend because of a federal budget shortfall.
A National Guard spokesman says a $101 million gap in funding for training is being addressed by postponing drills, suspending travel and other steps. Meanwhile, there are efforts underway to get funding reallocated so the drills can be held later this month.
Among other states that have put off National Guard training exercises are Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio and New York. Some, including Alaska, Oregon and Vermont, plan to go ahead as scheduled.
Among reasons for the shortfall are fewer citizen-soldier deployments overseas that are funded separately and higher-than-expected attendance for training paid by the Guard.