Hearing Examines Impact of Sequestration

The Senate Armed Services Committee held an oversight hearing in February on "Impacts of Sequestration and/or a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) on the Department of Defense."

Testimony made at the hearing indicated that sequestration and the full-year Continuing Resolution will have a deleterious impact on the DoD's future readiness and ability to transition away from the wars in the Middle East. For example, sequestration would reduce the United States Air Force's topline budget by $12.4 billion in FY 2013. In addition to that cut, the Air Force would also face a $1.8 billion shortfall in overseas contingency operations funding from a potential year-long CR.

Hearing witnesses included:

• The Honorable Ashton Carter, deputy secretary, DoD
• The Honorable Robert Hale, under secretary (comptroller), DoD
• Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA, chairman, Joints Chiefs of Staff 
• Gen. Raymond Odierno, USA, chief of staff of the Army
• ADM Mark Ferguson III, USN, vice chief of Naval Operations
• Gen. James Amos, USMC, commandant of the Marine Corps
• Gen. Mark Welsh III, USAF, chief of staff of the Air Force
• Gen. Frank Grass, NGB, chief, National Guard Bureau

Sequestration went into effect on March 1 and the Continuing Resolution expires on March 27.