Sequestration's Potential Impact On San Diego
The $85 billion budget-cutting sequestrations could affect everything from commercial flights to classrooms to meat inspections. Domestic and defense spending alike would be trimmed, leading to furloughs for hundreds of thousands of government workers and contractors. KPBS takes an in-depth look at the potential impact on San Diego.
Carl Luna, a political science professor at San Diego Mesa College, and Marney Cox, the chief economist at the San Diego Association of Governments, talk to KPBS about the potential impacts of sequestration.
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If Congress fails to make a deal on government spending before Friday, California will lose roughly $88 million in K-12 funding; $2.5 million to help the state respond to public health threats; $54 million for military bases; $5.4 million for programs like Meals On Wheels; and $400 million in civilian Defense Department cuts, resulting in 64,000 employees being furloughed.
KPBS In-Depth Coverage
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KPBS Midday EditionThe U.S. Attorney for San Diego says sequestration cuts are about to hit her office hard. U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy warns that she may have to pick and choose which offenders to prosecute if the cuts go through. Government lawyers and federal investigators face furloughs in the new fiscal year. Duffy says cuts to federal courts and probation officers could make San Diego less safe. -
Across-the-board federal budget cuts are being felt locally by resettlement agencies and the refugees they help. -
The sequestration fallout is set to reach one of San Diego’s most vulnerable populations — low-income seniors. The drastic cuts to vital programs could take effect starting July 1. -
A combative President Barack Obama blamed Republican lawmakers Friday for failing to stop automatic spending cuts from beginning to kick in late in the day. -
Getting economists to agree with each other isn't easy. But Congress and the White House have managed to unite them.
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KPBS Midday EditionCalifornia is bracing for massive cuts to federal spending from so-called sequestration, including a $3.2-billion hit to the region's defense industry, unless Congress acts by March 1. -
It’s well known that across-the-board federal budget cuts would have a huge impact on the defense industry. But social service programs would be affected as well. -
If Congress isn’t able to avoid the automatic budget cuts of sequestration on March 1, border protection and legitimate border traffic could suffer. -
The San Diego region's military will suffer the most from federal budget cuts looming at the end of the week, but other economic sectors will suffer as well, including tourism. -
San Diego shipbuilders rallied to protect their jobs Friday morning. -
KPBS Midday EditionThe debate continues over automatic spending cuts set to go into effect at the end of this month. Democratic Congressman Scott Peters, who just began his term representing San Diego's 52nd District, talks about what's needed to avoid the cuts. -
Pentagon officials say military pay and benefits would not be affected by sequestration. -
San Diego’s economy depends heavily on federal military spending, so it’s not surprising a Super PAC to oppose military budget cuts has launched here. San Diego may not suffer significantly under defense cuts in the budget. But the battle will be fierce if bigger cuts, known as “sequestration,” are triggered by Congress’ failure to agree.
Scott Peters on Sequestration
Win McNamee