DCPolitics

Sequester Math

There’s been a lot of talk about the “draconian” cuts associated with the Washington, D.C. sequester – a.k.a. the incredibly modest reduction in federal excess which kicked in last week. And while these “cuts” come on the heels of a record ramp-up in deficit spending (in fact they were a…

There’s been a lot of talk about the “draconian” cuts associated with the Washington, D.C. sequester – a.k.a. the incredibly modest reduction in federal excess which kicked in last week.

And while these “cuts” come on the heels of a record ramp-up in deficit spending (in fact they were a condition of that ramp-up), U.S. President Barack Obama and his allies in the legacy media have been going out of their way to exaggerate their impact on “middle class families.”

That’s why it surprised us to see a kernel of truth coming from National Public Radio (NPR) – which has historically been nothing but a government funded mouthpiece.

“The White House has been saying spending will be reduced by $85 billion this year,” NPR reported last week. “The Congressional Budget Office, however, just released a new report saying the cuts will only amount to $42 billion.”

According to NPR, the difference lies in the difference between “budget authority” (i.e. the amount agencies are authorized to spend) and “cash outlays” (i.e. the amount agencies are actually going to spend). In other words just because Congress budgeted $1 billion for a bunch of new drones – it doesn’t mean all of those drones will be purchased this year.

The sequester cuts were originally supposed to total $110 billion a year. Obama and “Republican” leaders in Congress balked at the first two months of those cuts, though, dropping the figure to $85 billion. Now we learn the actual reduction in spending over the rest of the fiscal year (which ends on September 30) is going to be less than half that total – $42 billion.

Hey fiscal liberals: Still think the sky is falling?

***

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20 comments

Smirks March 4, 2013 at 10:26 am

No significant revenue, no significant cuts. Nobody is getting what they want, and America isn’t getting what it needs.

Ah, politics…

Reply
Smirks March 4, 2013 at 10:26 am

No significant revenue, no significant cuts. Nobody is getting what they want, and America isn’t getting what it needs.

Ah, politics…

Reply
CNSYD March 4, 2013 at 11:17 am

See if the below sounds like nothing to you.

DTG 022300Z Mar 13

FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

TO ALNAV

INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

CMC WASHINGTON DC

CNO WASHINGTON DC

BT

UNCLAS

ALNAV 014/13

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR//

SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY RESPONSE TO SEQUESTRATION//

RMKS/1.
LAST NIGHT, BECAUSE NO BUDGET DEAL HAD BEEN REACHED, THE BUDGET
CONTROL ACT REQUIRED SETTING IN MOTION THE AUTOMATIC, GOVERNMENT-WIDE
CUTS KNOWN AS SEQUESTRATION. GIVEN THAT REALITY AND THE ASSOCIATED
IMPACT OF BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY IMPOSED BY AN INDEFINITE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY INTENDS TO COMMENCE SOME
REDUCTIONS IMMEDIATELY.

2. NAVY PLANS TO:

A. SHUT DOWN CARRIER AIR WING TWO (CVW-2) IN APRIL. THIS WILL INITIATE
THE PREPARATIONS TO GRADUALLY STAND-DOWN FLYING IN AT LEAST

THREE ADDITIONAL AIR WINGS WITH TWO MORE AIR WINGS BEING REDUCED TO MINIMUM SAFE FLYING LEVELS BY THE END OF THE YEAR;

B. DEFER USNS COMFORT HUMANITARIAN DEPLOYMENT TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH
AMERICA, “CONTINUING PROMISE 2013?, INCLUDING SUPPORTING SHIPS,

SEABEES, AND MEDICAL UNITS;

C. CANCEL OR DEFER THE DEPLOYMENTS OF UP TO SIX SHIPS TO VARIOUS AORS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL;

D. LAY UP FOUR COMBAT LOGISTICS FORCE (CLF) UNITS IN PACOM STARTING IN APRIL;

E. RETURN USS SHOUP (DDG 86) TO HOMEPORT EARLY AND NOT PROCEED AS USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) ESCORT TO CENTCOM;

F. RETURN USS THACH (FFG 43) TO HOMEPORT EARLY FROM DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHCOM.

3. WE WILL ALSO IMMEDIATELY:

A. BEGIN NEGOTIATING CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS TO DE-OBLIGATE EFFORTS FOR
ANY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE REMAINING UNOBLIGATED BALANCE WILL
BE INSUFFICIENT AFTER THE SEQUESTRATION REDUCTION IS APPLIED. MAJOR
PROGRAMS AFFECTED INCLUDE VIRGINIA-CLASS SSN
ADVANCE PROCUREMENT, REACTOR POWER UNITS AND JOINT HIGH SPEED VESSEL
(JHSV 10);

B. COMMENCE FINAL PLANNING TO SLOW MARINE CORPS DEPOT MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN THE NON-PERMANENT WORKFORCE;

C. CANCEL MARCH INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT SCREENING FOR FUTURE PILOTS/NFOS;

D. ANNOUNCE INTENT TO CANCEL BLUE ANGELS SHOWS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2013
[FOUR SHOWS: MACDILL AFB (TAMPA, FL), NAS CORPUS CHRISTI TX, VIDALIA
GA, MCAS BEAUFORT SC];

E. CEASE NEW USMC ENROLLMENTS IN VOLUNTARY EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE;

F. CANCEL MARCH NAVY RECRUITING MEDIA SUPPORT AND REDUCE THE MAJORITY
OF ADVERTISING CONTRACTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UNDER CONTRACTUAL
CONDITIONS.

4.
THESE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PRESERVE SUPPORT FOR THOSE FORCES
STATIONED OVERSEAS AND CURRENTLY FORWARD-DEPLOYED. REDUCTIONS IN
LOWER-PRIORITY FORWARD OPERATIONS, AND SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN
ALL OTHER OPERATIONS, TRAINING, AND MAINTENANCE ARE THE RESULTS OF THIS
SELECTION PROCESS. WE MADE THESE CHOICES CAREFULLY, WHILE TRYING TO
PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO REVERSE OR QUICKLY RESTORE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IF
AND WHEN FUNDING IS RESTORED.

5.
ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN TO DATE WILL CONTINUE, TO INCLUDE THOSE
AFFECTING THE DEFERRAL OF MAINTENANCE FOR USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72);
THE DEFERRAL OF REPAIR WORK FOR USS MIAMI (SSN 755) AND USS PORTER
(DDG 78); THE DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) AND USS
GETTYSBURG (CG 64); THE CIVILIAN HIRING FREEZE; THE PLANNING FOR
CIVILIAN FURLOUGHS; AND THE REDUCTION OF ALL TRAINING NOT RELATED TO THE
READINESS OF DEPLOYED OR NEXT-TO-DEPLOY FORCES.

6.
NAVY DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THESE AND
OTHER DECISIONS CREATE BOTH AMONGST OUR PEOPLE AND IN THE DEFENSE
INDUSTRY UPON WHICH WE RELY. THE LACK OF A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION
TO AVOID SEQUESTRATION IS DEEPLY REGRETTABLE. THAT SAID, WE MUST
ENDEAVOR TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AS WE FACE IT, NOT AS WE WISH IT
COULD OTHERWISE BE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
OF OUR PEOPLE FOREMOST IN MIND, EVEN AS WE TRY HARD
TO KEEP WHOLE THE FORCE STRUCTURE WHICH SUPPORTS THEM. WE WILL ALSO
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FLEET AND FLEET MARINE FORCE FULLY INFORMED AS
FOLLOW-ON DECISIONS ARE MADE.

7. RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//

BT

Reply
Bubbas Brother March 4, 2013 at 12:40 pm

1 – 3 should have been done ten years ago. One Nimitz class carrier group has more combat air and sea power of most of the nations of the world. 5 Active and 5 held in ready reserve are more than enough at this point in our history. Throw in the 8 Wasp Class carriers and our Navy has the second largest air force in the world – second only to the United States. The “afloat MEG” force in a WASP class carrier group holds a ground combat force larger than many of the Armies in the world.

It’s a damn shame that jobs will be lost, it’s a damn shame that people can’t read tea leaves any better than they have but it would be a even bigger shame to continue spending money like we don’t have a care in the world.

My Army needs to have the active force cut by 1/3 with an end strength around 250,000. We can live without any new combat vehicles for the foreseeable future, until something truly revolutionary comes along – when a $50 IED can defeat a brand new $500,000 combat vehicle, it’s past time to rethink what we’re doing with combat vehicles. The M109A6 Paladin, a self-propelled, armored howitzer introduced in the 60s has be continuously refined and updated and is the first class artillery vehicle on the battle field. The M-1A2 TUSK main battle tank, based on a vehicle first introduced in 1979 is still the best on the battle field – but a well-designed IED can defeat it under the right set of circumstances.

We can probably cut all manned heavy bombers without much degradation of world dominance. Drones can do it much better than heavy bombers (B-52s, B-1s and B-2s). Hold a few wings of air superiority fighters and scratch the rest of the aerial combat force in favor of drones and missiles. Replace/upgrade the aging C-17 and C-130 fleets with the program savings from eliminating the F-117, F-22 and F-35. Then roll the whole damn air force back into the Army.

In July of 1990 as a young Army Officer I told a group of ROTC Cadets that the World was a far more dangerous place now that the Soviet Union was gone and the senior officers present laughed at me – a month later we were engaged in Desert Storm. Nothing has changed, the world is even more dangerous today, us mid-level officers keep pointing this fact out and our senior officers and politicians keep ignoring us.

Reply
Thomas March 4, 2013 at 6:56 pm

Yea, so explain why we have 5 nuclear aircraft carriers parked in Norfolk right now? Budget cuts or treason? No since Pearl Harbor….

Reply
CNSYD March 4, 2013 at 9:02 pm

and which are they? Your answer is important as it will demonstrate if you have even a clue.

Reply
Bubbas Brother March 4, 2013 at 11:10 pm

Ike, Truman, Bush and Lincoln were in port in December when the photo making the Facebook “tin foil hat circuit” was taken. The Enterprise is there as well though no longer operational. The story is that they were all ordered in for some mysterious “inspection” by Obummer – the truth is that 3 of the 5 just crossed paths for scheduled stuff; the Enterprise will likely never leave again until she’s scrapped out and Lincoln will be in port for a while as well since the Navy can’t afford to fuel her.

I hate to see the ‘prise go, I spent a miserable week aboard her learning to “carrier qual” Army Rotary Wing Aircraft (aka helicopters…) but somehow I feel a kinship to the Squids who manned her.

Reply
CNSYD March 5, 2013 at 9:22 am

NVR states that the E is still in commission but in stand down for inactivation. E has eight (8) reactors and was a bear to maintain. It is also over 50 years old. Obviously CVN 68 class carriers are more efficient.

CNSYD March 4, 2013 at 11:17 am

See if the below sounds like nothing to you.

DTG 022300Z Mar 13

FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

TO ALNAV

INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

CMC WASHINGTON DC

CNO WASHINGTON DC

BT

UNCLAS

ALNAV 014/13

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR//

SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY RESPONSE TO SEQUESTRATION//

RMKS/1.
LAST NIGHT, BECAUSE NO BUDGET DEAL HAD BEEN REACHED, THE BUDGET
CONTROL ACT REQUIRED SETTING IN MOTION THE AUTOMATIC, GOVERNMENT-WIDE
CUTS KNOWN AS SEQUESTRATION. GIVEN THAT REALITY AND THE ASSOCIATED
IMPACT OF BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY IMPOSED BY AN INDEFINITE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY INTENDS TO COMMENCE SOME
REDUCTIONS IMMEDIATELY.

2. NAVY PLANS TO:

A. SHUT DOWN CARRIER AIR WING TWO (CVW-2) IN APRIL. THIS WILL INITIATE
THE PREPARATIONS TO GRADUALLY STAND-DOWN FLYING IN AT LEAST

THREE ADDITIONAL AIR WINGS WITH TWO MORE AIR WINGS BEING REDUCED TO MINIMUM SAFE FLYING LEVELS BY THE END OF THE YEAR;

B. DEFER USNS COMFORT HUMANITARIAN DEPLOYMENT TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH
AMERICA, “CONTINUING PROMISE 2013?, INCLUDING SUPPORTING SHIPS,

SEABEES, AND MEDICAL UNITS;

C. CANCEL OR DEFER THE DEPLOYMENTS OF UP TO SIX SHIPS TO VARIOUS AORS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL;

D. LAY UP FOUR COMBAT LOGISTICS FORCE (CLF) UNITS IN PACOM STARTING IN APRIL;

E. RETURN USS SHOUP (DDG 86) TO HOMEPORT EARLY AND NOT PROCEED AS USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) ESCORT TO CENTCOM;

F. RETURN USS THACH (FFG 43) TO HOMEPORT EARLY FROM DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHCOM.

3. WE WILL ALSO IMMEDIATELY:

A. BEGIN NEGOTIATING CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS TO DE-OBLIGATE EFFORTS FOR
ANY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE REMAINING UNOBLIGATED BALANCE WILL
BE INSUFFICIENT AFTER THE SEQUESTRATION REDUCTION IS APPLIED. MAJOR
PROGRAMS AFFECTED INCLUDE VIRGINIA-CLASS SSN
ADVANCE PROCUREMENT, REACTOR POWER UNITS AND JOINT HIGH SPEED VESSEL
(JHSV 10);

B. COMMENCE FINAL PLANNING TO SLOW MARINE CORPS DEPOT MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN THE NON-PERMANENT WORKFORCE;

C. CANCEL MARCH INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT SCREENING FOR FUTURE PILOTS/NFOS;

D. ANNOUNCE INTENT TO CANCEL BLUE ANGELS SHOWS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2013
[FOUR SHOWS: MACDILL AFB (TAMPA, FL), NAS CORPUS CHRISTI TX, VIDALIA
GA, MCAS BEAUFORT SC];

E. CEASE NEW USMC ENROLLMENTS IN VOLUNTARY EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE;

F. CANCEL MARCH NAVY RECRUITING MEDIA SUPPORT AND REDUCE THE MAJORITY
OF ADVERTISING CONTRACTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UNDER CONTRACTUAL
CONDITIONS.

4.
THESE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PRESERVE SUPPORT FOR THOSE FORCES
STATIONED OVERSEAS AND CURRENTLY FORWARD-DEPLOYED. REDUCTIONS IN
LOWER-PRIORITY FORWARD OPERATIONS, AND SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN
ALL OTHER OPERATIONS, TRAINING, AND MAINTENANCE ARE THE RESULTS OF THIS
SELECTION PROCESS. WE MADE THESE CHOICES CAREFULLY, WHILE TRYING TO
PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO REVERSE OR QUICKLY RESTORE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IF
AND WHEN FUNDING IS RESTORED.

5.
ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN TO DATE WILL CONTINUE, TO INCLUDE THOSE
AFFECTING THE DEFERRAL OF MAINTENANCE FOR USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72);
THE DEFERRAL OF REPAIR WORK FOR USS MIAMI (SSN 755) AND USS PORTER
(DDG 78); THE DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) AND USS
GETTYSBURG (CG 64); THE CIVILIAN HIRING FREEZE; THE PLANNING FOR
CIVILIAN FURLOUGHS; AND THE REDUCTION OF ALL TRAINING NOT RELATED TO THE
READINESS OF DEPLOYED OR NEXT-TO-DEPLOY FORCES.

6.
NAVY DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THESE AND
OTHER DECISIONS CREATE BOTH AMONGST OUR PEOPLE AND IN THE DEFENSE
INDUSTRY UPON WHICH WE RELY. THE LACK OF A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION
TO AVOID SEQUESTRATION IS DEEPLY REGRETTABLE. THAT SAID, WE MUST
ENDEAVOR TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AS WE FACE IT, NOT AS WE WISH IT
COULD OTHERWISE BE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
OF OUR PEOPLE FOREMOST IN MIND, EVEN AS WE TRY HARD
TO KEEP WHOLE THE FORCE STRUCTURE WHICH SUPPORTS THEM. WE WILL ALSO
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FLEET AND FLEET MARINE FORCE FULLY INFORMED AS
FOLLOW-ON DECISIONS ARE MADE.

7. RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//

BT

Reply
The Colonel (R) March 4, 2013 at 12:40 pm

1 – 3 should have been done ten years ago. One Nimitz class carrier group has more combat air and sea power of most of the nations of the world. 5 Active and 5 held in ready reserve are more than enough at this point in our history. Throw in the 8 Wasp Class carriers and our Navy has the second largest air force in the world – second only to the United States. The “afloat MEG” force in a WASP class carrier group holds a ground combat force larger than many of the Armies in the world.

It’s a damn shame that jobs will be lost, it’s a damn shame that people can’t read tea leaves any better than they have but it would be a even bigger shame to continue spending money like we don’t have a care in the world.

My Army needs to have the active force cut by 1/3 with an end strength around 250,000. We can live without any new combat vehicles for the foreseeable future, until something truly revolutionary comes along – when a $50 IED can defeat a brand new $500,000 combat vehicle, it’s past time to rethink what we’re doing with combat vehicles. The M109A6 Paladin, a self-propelled, armored howitzer introduced in the 60s has be continuously refined and updated and is the first class artillery vehicle on the battle field. The M-1A2 TUSK main battle tank, based on a vehicle first introduced in 1979 is still the best on the battle field – but a well-designed IED can defeat it under the right set of circumstances.

We can probably cut all manned heavy bombers without much degradation of world dominance. Drones can do it much better than heavy bombers (B-52s, B-1s and B-2s). Hold a few wings of air superiority fighters and scratch the rest of the aerial combat force in favor of drones and missiles. Replace/upgrade the aging C-17 and C-130 fleets with the program savings from eliminating the F-117, F-22 and F-35. Then roll the whole damn air force back into the Army.

In July of 1990 as a young Army Officer I told a group of ROTC Cadets that the World was a far more dangerous place now that the Soviet Union was gone and the senior officers present laughed at me – a month later we were engaged in Desert Storm. Nothing has changed, the world is even more dangerous today, us mid-level officers keep pointing this fact out and our senior officers and politicians keep ignoring us.

Reply
Thomas March 4, 2013 at 6:56 pm

Yea, so explain why we have 5 nuclear aircraft carriers parked in Norfolk right now? Budget cuts or treason? No since Pearl Harbor….

Reply
CNSYD March 4, 2013 at 9:02 pm

and which are they? Your answer is important as it will demonstrate if you have even a clue.

Reply
The Colonel (R) March 4, 2013 at 11:10 pm

Ike, Truman, Bush and Lincoln were in port in December when the photo making the Facebook “tin foil hat circuit” was taken. The Enterprise is there as well though no longer operational. The story is that they were all ordered in for some mysterious “inspection” by Obummer – the truth is that 3 of the 5 just crossed paths for scheduled stuff; the Enterprise will likely never leave again until she’s scrapped out and Lincoln will be in port for a while as well since the Navy can’t afford to fuel her.

I hate to see the ‘prise go, I spent a miserable week aboard her learning to “carrier qual” Army Rotary Wing Aircraft (aka helicopters…) but somehow I feel a kinship to the Squids who manned her.

Reply
CNSYD March 5, 2013 at 9:22 am

NVR states that the E is still in commission but in stand down for inactivation. E has eight (8) reactors and was a bear to maintain. It is also over 50 years old. Obviously CVN 68 class carriers are more efficient.

Philip Branton March 4, 2013 at 11:36 am

Dear Bobby Harrell………when you read the below comment by CNSYD, do you have flashbacks about certain financial moves and personnel moves..!?

Bobby Harrell ….do you think that SECNAV Mabus is …..STUPID..!? We hope not..!! Bobby have you asked yourself why the stock market is going up and why NONE of the SC-1 candidates are talking about our NATIONAL Security or our SLAVERY to foreign OIL.!?!?

Mr Harrell…have you ever watched the Movie “Patton”…!?

Reply
Philip Branton March 4, 2013 at 11:36 am

Dear Bobby Harrell………when you read the below comment by CNSYD, do you have flashbacks about certain financial moves and personnel moves..!?

Bobby Harrell ….do you think that SECNAV Mabus is …..STUPID..!? We hope not..!! Bobby have you asked yourself why the stock market is going up and why NONE of the SC-1 candidates are talking about our NATIONAL Security or our SLAVERY to foreign OIL.!?!?

Mr Harrell…have you ever watched the Movie “Patton”…!?

Reply
Robert March 4, 2013 at 1:29 pm

It is all bullshit. And each one of them in Washington is full of the same bullshit.

Reply
Robert March 4, 2013 at 1:29 pm

It is all bullshit. And each one of them in Washington is full of the same bullshit.

Reply
JC March 4, 2013 at 10:18 pm

Until someone is willing to go on tv in the middle of a Presidential debate and tell the American people that they are stupid, brainwashed idiots who continue to elect the same big spending crooks from both parties, and thus they get exactly what they deserve, nothing will change. Even if it was said, the pundits at Fox, MSNBC and CNN would swoop in with the same propaganda, stories of the pending apocalypse and Israel’s destruction. That, along with reality tv, would probably distract the American people again. The blame is squarely on the American people, who have become entitled, warmongering, and propagandized sheep.

Reply
JC March 4, 2013 at 10:18 pm

Until someone is willing to go on tv in the middle of a Presidential debate and tell the American people that they are stupid, brainwashed idiots who continue to elect the same big spending crooks from both parties, and thus they get exactly what they deserve, nothing will change. Even if it was said, the pundits at Fox, MSNBC and CNN would swoop in with the same propaganda, stories of the pending apocalypse and Israel’s destruction. That, along with reality tv, would probably distract the American people again. The blame is squarely on the American people, who have become entitled, warmongering, and propagandized sheep.

Reply

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