Due to Congress’ failure to take action, the irrational, across-the-board spending cuts known as sequester went into effect last week. Over the next few weeks and months, unless Congress takes action to replace sequestration, our national security will see severe reductions in funding, threatening jobs and impacting programs domestically and abroad. These cuts threaten the mission of our three Southern Maryland military installations – Patuxent River, Webster Field, and Indian Head – as well as Joint Base Andrews. Together these installations have an over $8 billion economic impact on our state and support over 36,000 jobs. 

According to a recent White House fact sheet on sequestration, military installations across our state could see thousands of employees furloughed and  $114 million in spending cuts:

  • Approximately 46,000 civilian Department of Defense employees could be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $353.7 million.

  • Army base operation funding could be cut by about $95 million.

  • Funding for Air Force operations could be cut by about $10 million.

  • The Navy could experience a $9 million cut in funding for demolition projects at Patuxent River and aircraft depot maintenance in Patuxent River could be canceled. Blue Angels shows at Patuxent River, Annapolis and Ocean City could be canceled, as well.

Local leaders in the defense contracting community have warned of the impact that sequestration is already having on their mission and on our local economy:

  • Glen Ives, President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance: “This is the most serious, threatening situation we have faced in terms of our nation’s security readiness, the Navy’s mission here at Pax River, the future of government and industry jobs and the potential adverse impacts to our economy and community.” [The Enterprise, 2/8/13]

  • Adelle Pierce, Industry Chair of the Naval Aviation Small Business Roundtable: “Sequestration represents a significant threat to the small business contracting community.  Small business contractors do not have the ability to absorb the impacts of significant cuts in their business base and are losing jobs as result. The unc