Posts Tagged ‘Congress/DOD’

With both parties separated by a wide chasm over how to turn off $85 billion in government-wide spending cuts slated to go into effect in a little more than two weeks, the best outcome at this point may be a bipartisan deal reached sometime in March. “I think what’s going to happen is the sequester will take effect, and then the serious negotiations will probably start,” said Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn …

The consequences of sequestration, which could cost the defense budget up to $500 billion in spending through fiscal 2021, are no grimmer than when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta first railed against their prospect after Congress reached an agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling in August 2011. But with the strong likelihood that the first tranche of $46 billion in spending reductions will be imposed in only 17 days, the Pentagon’s senior civilian and military leaders wasted no time before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday painting a sobering picture of sequestration’s impact on military readiness …

The Army and Navy are facing a shortfall in their fiscal 2013 operations budgets exceeding $9 billion because they have been spending money at a slightly faster rate than called for under the continuing resolution funding the government through March 27. While the CR is intended to cover 178 days, or 48.8 percent, of the year, the Office of Management and Budget is allowing the Army to spend at a rate that would expend 49.7 percent of its funds through March 27 and the Navy at a rate as high as 52.4 percent, reported Politico …

Senate Democrats plan to unveil by Thursday legislation that would replace $85 billion in government-wide spending cuts roughly split between new revenue generated by ending tax breaks and alternate spending reductions. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is expected to brief his caucus Tuesday on the plan’s details, with the measure being formally introduced on the floor Thursday if Democrats approve …

During a farewell tribute at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall on Friday, President Obama and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for his nearly 50-year career in public service. Obama applauded Panetta’s numerous accomplishments at both the Pentagon and CIA, from the high-profile success of hunting down Osama bin Laden, to other achievements, such as improving support for wounded warriors, military families and veterans and carrying out the final repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy …

Two high-profile decisions announced last week by the Pentagon to trim spending did not stem from the looming threat of sequestration, but rather were responses to the department’s existing budget crisis, said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Wednesday, officials halted deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to help the Navy cope with a $4.6 billion shortfall in spending on operations and maintenance this year resulting from DOD operating under a continuing resolution rather than a full-year appropriations bill …

Despite recent claims by senior leaders of both parties that sequestration likely will go forward this year, there still are plenty of Republican and Democrat lawmakers who would like to avoid the $85 billion in government-wide spending reductions scheduled to go into effect March 1. Of course the dispute over whether a package to replace the cuts will include increases in tax revenue, or be composed entirely of alternate spending reductions, is the primary obstacle to a bipartisan deal …

The Air Force would be forced to postpone the start of 22 new military construction projects if automatic defense cuts are imposed beginning March 1, according to an Air Force presentation to Congress. Sequestration would affect smaller projects as well, requiring the service to defer work on more than 420 non-emergency facilities sustainment and restoration/modernization projects at more than 140 installations …

Senate Democrats are trying to complete work by the end of next week on a bill to reverse $85 billion in government-wide spending reductions slated to be imposed March 1. Their goal is to bring the measure, an undetermined mix of alternate spending cuts and new tax revenue, to the Senate floor the week of Feb. 25, just before the sequester goes into effect …

The House Appropriations Committee has begun drafting a continuing resolution to fund the government after March 27, a strong indication that Congress will not be moving any of the 12 individual spending bills for fiscal 2013. Congressional leaders most likely will fund the remainder of the fiscal year through another six-month stopgap measure, but no decision has been made yet …