White House Weighs in on Sequestration

Congress’ intransigent stance on rolling back sequestration cuts will harbor serious repercussions throughout the government – including the Defense Department – the White House said. “Sequestration funding levels would … put our national security at unnecessary risk, not only through pressures on defense spending, but also through pressures on [the Department of] State, USAID [the U.S. Agency for International Development], and Homeland Security,” Office of Management and Budget director Shaun Donovan stated in an April 21 letter to Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. Donovan’s letter specifically cited pending legislation to fund military construction, VA, and related agencies at a level about $2 billion below the White House request for fiscal year 2016, which begins Oct. 1. If passed as written, the measure would decimate programs for veterans, children, and families. The White House also objected to a provision that would bar funding to expand or renovate the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba.