No Sequester Cut Coming This Year

Agencies won’t be ordered to cut spending this fiscal year as happened last year when sequestration of $85 billion set off hiring freezes, widespread furloughs and other cutbacks, OMB has said in a report. It said that the recently enacted law funding the government through September falls within the limits—both on the defense and non-defense sides—of the 2011 law that created sequestration. However, steps such as limits on travel and awards generally remain in place, and only a few agencies have said they plan to resume hiring; a few others are offering early retirement and buyout incentives.