Defense Cuts Caused By Sequestration Would Devastate America’s National Security

Under Sequestration, $500 Billion Would Be Cut From Defense Spending Over The Next Decade. “Both Republicans and Democrats want to avoid sequestration. President Obama said flatly during the presidential debates that it would not happen. In addition to the Pentagon cuts of $500 billion over 10 years, sequestration includes an across-the-board domestic discretionary spending cut of the same size.” [The Hill, 1/6/13]

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Testified To Congress That Sequestration “Guarantees That We Are Going To Hollow The Force And Devastate Our National Security.” DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA: “And let me tell you something if sequester goes into effect, you can throw all of this out the window. Sequester doubles the numbers of cuts, does it through that crazy formula, and guarantees that we are going to hollow the force and devastate our national security.” [Secretary Leon Panetta, Testimony, 2/16/12]

• Panetta: “It’s Not Something, Frankly, That Anybody Who Is Responsible Ought To Put Into Effect.”  “It’s a nutty formula, and it’s goofy to begin with, and it’s not something, frankly, that anybody who is responsible ought to put into effect.” [Secretary Leon Panetta, Testimony, 2/28/12]

Under Sequestration Funding For The War In Afghanistan, Operations In The Persian Gulf, As Well As “Training Programs, Equipment Maintenance And Military Benefits” Would Be Cut. “Sequestration compounds the damage because the cuts would be automatic and indiscriminate. The Pentagon now concedes that funding for the war in Afghanistan would be hit, contrary to past assurances. So would current operations in the Persian Gulf. Training programs, equipment maintenance and military benefits are affected too. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin says the law obliges it to send layoff warnings as soon as October to most of its 123,000 workers…” [The Wall Street Journal, 7/20/12]