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When queried by Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), Odierno expressed concern the recent Strategic Choices and Management Review might take an overly optimistic view of the impact of sequestration on the defense budget. He pointed out the review assumes a potential conflict would last only six months, without residual operations or casualties and without the use of weapons of mass destruction. History suggests any new conflict could be far more complicated.
Amplifying the challenge for the services in 2014 is a lack of budget flexibility. Welsh explained the Air Force made up for 25 percent of sequestration cuts in 2013 by transferring prior-year funding. That flexibility won’t exist in year two of sequestration.
A sequestration fix is anything but imminent as Congress juggles the continuing resolution and the debt ceiling.
Shutdown’s Impact
How will military and veterans’ programs be affected?
On Sept. 20 the House passed a FY 2014 stopgap funding bill (H.J. Resolution 59) — a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend FY 2013 spending levels for federal programs through Dec. 15 and avoid a government shutdown while next year’s budget is taken up.
The CR will allow lawmakers more time to work out a larger fiscal package before the end of the calendar year. The CR will provide an annual spending level of $986.3 billion, slightly below the $988 billion provided in FY 2013. FY 2014 discretionary spending was targeted at about $967 billion, down from the originally proposed $1.058 trillion.
The House resolution contains a provision to withdraw funding for the 2010 Affordable Care Act. This provision is expected to be stripped out when it reaches the Senate, setting up a potential roadblock for action just days before the Sept. 30 deadline. As this article went to press, it was unclear whether the two chambers would reach a compromise and avoid a shutdown.
In the absence of a deal, the Office of Management and Budget notified federal agencies earlier to begin to prepare for a government shutdown.
How would you be affected by the shutdown? Here’s a brief rundown of the impact on several important military and veterans’ programs.
Currently serving pay: We know the troops still will be on duty. But if a military payday occurs during the shutdown, troops might not get paid.
Federal civilian pay: If there is no money to pay them, many civilians would effectively be furloughed until funding restarts.
Government services: During the 1996 shutdown, national parks were closed, passport applications weren’t processed, toxic-waste cleanups were stopped, and many federal contractors weren’t paid, among other things.
Social Security: Checks for those currently eligible will continue, but processing of new applications most likely would be suspended.
Military and federal civilian retired pay and survivor annuities: These checks would not be affected because retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities are entitlements that aren’t subject to annual appropriations. But the Social Security answer above raises at least some doubt about whether new retired pay and survivor accounts will be processed.
36 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2013
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