The Navy has delayed the deployment of the carrier Harry S. Truman and guided-missile cruiser Gettysburg, due to the uncertainty surrounding possible sequestration-related budget cuts. The vessels had been scheduled to leave Norfolk Naval Station, Va., Feb. 6. “This prudent decision enables the U.S. Navy to maintain these ships to deploy on short notice in the event they are needed to respond to national security contingencies,” said Pentagon spokesman George Little in a prepared statement. “The United States will continue to maintain a robust presence in the CENTCOM region,” Little said. The U.S. Central Command is responsible for military operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.
