Sequestration: What to make of the

Budget cuts of $85 billion are set to take effect but outcome of standoff is anything but clear
Barring a last-minute deal, mandatory federal budget cuts called the sequester will take effect. These cuts would be spread across the federal budget and would amount to $85 billion through September, the end of the 2013 fiscal year. Among the hardest-hit areas: a 13 percent cut in defense spending and 9 percent in domestic spending, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Though few expect Congress and President Barack Obama to reach a deal before the deadline, the cuts could be reconfigured or even eliminated by a later agreement. As it stands, federal officials are warning of layoffs and closings that will roll out in coming weeks. Here are the cuts through a variety of perspectives:

The sequester and the deficit

Congressional Budget Office projections, by fiscal year Projected deficit

$846 billion

2013

Amount deficit would grow if sequester cuts were canceled

$42 billion

616 430 476 535 605 710 798 854

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

89 99 103 104 105 104 104 104

How across-the-board budget cuts would divide among federal agencies

The president, as required by the debt-ceiling compromise, submitted to Congress a detailed account of the federal budget, the potential sequestration amounts and where they would apply. Though developments since the report was released in September have changed the amount of the cuts, they remain proportional to the overall cuts needed in 2013.

Department of Defense

What agencies say could happen

As the politics of the sequester debate heated up, various agency heads testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the effects of the cuts. The highlights:

Defense

Perce n of ove tage r for 20 all cuts 13

The department expects to furlough the vast majority of its 800,000 civilian employees; result could eventually be fewer weapons available for deployment in future contingencies

Operations and maintenance for all military branches

26.3%

Agriculture

An estimated $2 billion in cuts could bring nationwide shutdowns of meat and poultry plants while inspectors are furloughed

Education

Up to 70,000 children could lose access to Head Start and Early Head Start services; sequester could also eliminate support for an estimated 2,700 schools serving 1.2 million disadvantaged students, while putting at risk the jobs of roughly 10,000 teachers and aides

Cuts representing less than one percent of total sequestration are not labeled

Transportation

Procurement
Includes airplanes, missiles and other equipment

More than 100 small air tower control centers across the country could be closed, and night shifts could be eliminated at 60 towers as part of possible Federal Aviation Administration cuts; Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said flights across the country could be canceled and delayed; Transportation Security Administration would need to stop hiring in March, eliminate overtime and furlough its 50,000 officers for up to seven days

14.7

Treasury

Most Treasury employees would face furloughs; Internal Revenue Service would complete fewer tax return reviews, and there would be delays in IRS responses to taxpayer inquiries

Research and development

7.2 1.6

Housing And Urban Development

About 125,000 individuals and families, including elderly and disabled individuals, could lose assistance provided through a rental assistance program

Military construction

Health and Human Services

Cuts could also reduce services for about 370,000 mentally ill adults and children; more than 100,000 people could experience reduced access to addiction and substance abuse services

Commerce

Cuts could mean decreased weather forecast capabilities for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, limiting warnings of hurricanes and tornadoes

Justice

About 1,000 federal agents who combat violent crime, pursue financial crimes, help with border and national security, and 1,300 correctional officers could be furloughed; FBIs capacity to tackle mortgage fraud, cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism, financial fraud and organized crime could be reduced; cuts could affect the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to respond to emerging violent crime threats, in particular, those posed by gun violence; also, as many as 36,700 staff members at the Bureau of Prisons would be furloughed for an average of 12 days; cuts could force U.S. attorneys to handle 2,600 fewer cases in fiscal year 2013 than in 2012 1,600 fewer civil cases and 1,000 fewer criminal cases

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Allow diffe ren

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Cuts remain in

What could happen next?

place

Non-defense departments
Health and Human Services

17.6%

Education

3.9

Housing and Urban Development

3.5 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 1.9

Agriculture State Justice Energy Labor Transportation Internal assistance programs Treasury

Environmental Protection Agency

Cuts could shut down air monitoring stations and slow the cleanup at federal Superfund sites, the nations most polluted areas

Homeland Security

Cuts could affect funds for survivors of superstorm Sandy, as well as survivors of tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Joplin, Mo.; Federal Emergency Management Agency would feel the effects of the cuts late in the fiscal year

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Broader de al

2013 MCT Source: U.S. Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Bipartisan Policy Center, U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Tribune Newspapers reporting Graphic: Wes Venteicher, Ryan Marx, Jonathon Berlin, Chicago Tribune

Cuts representing less than one percent of total sequestration are not labeled

1.8 1.4 Interior 1.3

NASA