Congressional Action Needed to Avert Sequestration
As the March 1 deadline for sequestration approaches, new reports highlight how nonstrategic across-the-board cuts would cause harm to America’s social wellbeing, economy and national security. Today the Pentagon previewed hundreds of thousands of civilian furloughs — mirrored in federal law enforcement, public health, social security and other domestic priorities. Congress must act to avoid sequestration – a mechanism that was never intended to go into effect. President Obama has again called on Congress to do just that and, if necessary, delay sequestration “not to kick the can down the road, but give them time to work together on a plan to finish job of deficit reduction in a sensible way.”
While the focus on the impact of sequestration has been mainly on jobs, the more significant risk to our national security comes from the failure to establish a sustainable process that reliably and efficiently funds top defense priorities and cuts waste. National security leaders continue to say that Pentagon budget reshaping should be part of a sensible plan to promote economic competitiveness and prepare to meet the all the challenges of the 21st century.
To avoid the devastating impacts of sequestration, Congress must act. Sequestration was never intended to occur, but instead to put pressure on Congress to come to a solution to responsibly reduce the deficit. As the Pentagon leadership enunciated effects on readiness, deployments and civilian employees, President Obama highlighted costs at home – “Are you willing to see a bunch of first responders lose their jobs because you want to protect a special interest tax loophole? Are you willing to have teachers laid off or kids not have access to Head Start? Or deeper cuts in student loan programs?” [President Obama via Politico, 2/19/13]
The stakes are high – Sequestration puts troops, citizens and economy at risk:
Non-defense: The Federal Times reports, “If across-the-board budget cuts take effect as scheduled next month, every FBI employee, including special agents, will be furloughed for almost three weeks by the end of September. Ditto for many law enforcement officers at the Department of Homeland Security, where layoffs are also a possibility. Furloughs for Agriculture Department food safety inspectors will mean temporary shutdowns of meat processing plants. At the Social Security Administration, more than 1,500 temporary workers and re-employed retirees will be shown the door.” The Washington Post adds, “Rent checks will be cut off to 10,000 elderly or disabled people and single mothers.” [Federal Times, 2/19/13. Washington Post, 2/15/13]
Defense: USA Today reports, “Budget cuts by the Air Force, Army and Navy scheduled to take effect March 1 will force almost $34 billion in wage and spending reductions and prompt furloughs or layoffs for millions of people, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. The Army’s estimated cuts will force $15 billion in wage and spending reductions and prompt furloughs or layoffs for 300,000 people nationwide, while the Navy could face $11 billion in similar cuts affecting a potential 186,000 employees, records show. The Air Force estimates $7.7 billion in lost pay for its civilian employees.” [USA Today, 2/20/13]
Congressional inaction is forcing uncertainty into Pentagon planning and putting the wellbeing of the troops and their families at risk. NSN senior advisor Major General (ret.) Paul Eaton explains, “I regret hearing the Army Chief of Staff forced to reveal in testimony that deployment scheduling for troops in and inbound to Afghanistan is now rendered uncertain in the face of a pending 10% budget cut due to sequester. There is something profoundly immoral in this artificially induced situation. Our troops and their families deserve better. It is time for the administration to work with our Army leaders to help them produce a workaround with the money that remains to stabilize deployment training to insure we meet our national obligations to our fighting men and women. If Congress refuses to do the right thing, the administration needs to help the Army find a compromise path to eliminate deployment/redeployment uncertainty.” [Paul Eaton, 2/20/13]
Even defense contractors also recognize uncertainty as the immediate cause for concern. The CEO of Lockheed Martin, Bob Stevens, has said “We are a long cycle company…our products last 20, 30 years, and right now we only have six months visibility…Right now there is crushing uncertainty…A long-term solution would open up the growth that we are looking for.” [Washington Technology, 7/18/12]
A balanced solution will include Pentagon budget reshaping to protect domestic programs and our economic competitiveness. As William Hartung of the Center for International Policy explains, “The best solution is for the president and the Congress to come up with a balanced package of revenue increases and domestic and Pentagon spending reductions that phases in strategically over time. But here’s a crucial point: the Pentagon can absorb an 8 percent reduction to a $500 billion-plus budget of the level called for by sequester while maintaining a strong defense, given smart management…Sequester or no sequester, the Pentagon can afford to scale back its plans by $500 billion over the next decade, an exercise that would still leave it with over $5 trillion to spend over that time period.” [William Hartung, 2/11/13]
Reshaping the Pentagon budget goes hand in hand with reshaping the U.S. military to meet future threats. Bloomberg notes, “The Obama administration foresees 21st century wars fought with fewer boots on the ground and more drones in the air, while the Pentagon continues buying weapons from the last century. In his Feb. 12 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said America no longer needs to deploy tens of thousands of troops to occupy nations or meet the evolving threat from new extremist groups…Nevertheless, the defense budget contains hundreds of billions of dollars for new generations of aircraft carriers and stealth fighters, tanks that even the Army says it doesn’t need and combat vehicles too heavy to maneuver in desert sands or cross most bridges in Asia, Africa or the Middle East.” [Bloomberg, 2/19/13]
What We’re Reading
The Chinese military condemns the report by the U.S. firm Mandiant linking it to prolific hacking of U.S. targets, claiming it lacks “technical proof.”
U.S. General John Allen will retire instead of taking over as NATO’s supreme commander in Europe, citing concerns about his wife’s health.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah swore in 30 women to the previously all-male Shura Council, in what was seen by many as a major step in female participation in public life in the conservative kingdom.
Former Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni agreed to join a new coalition led by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as justice minister and chief negotiator with the Palestinians.
Silvio Berlusconi’s rivals accuse him of trying to buy votes in Italy’s upcoming election by sending out letters promising a tax rebate.
Greece hit by the first general strike of 2013 as workers renew their protest over austerity measures.
Bulgaria’s government announced it is resigning after nationwide protests against high electricity prices and austerity measures.
France urged its citizens to leave north Cameroon “as quickly as possible” after seven of its nationals were kidnapped by gunmen.
China rejected the Philippines’ attempt to seek international arbitration over conflicting claims to territory in the South China Sea.
Japan’s monthly trade deficit hit a record in January after its recent aggressive monetary policy stance weakened its currency sharply.
China considered using a drone strike to kill a drug lord hiding in a mountainous region of Southeast Asia, highlighting its military advances.
Commentary of the Day
Heather Hurlburt explores the impact that the Hagel nomination could have on the U.S. Senate.
Thomas Friedman analyzes the political clashes in Egypt.
