Sequestration Updates

 UPDATE: 01/25: The Washington Times reports that the Pentagon is now beginning the process of laying off around 46,000 from its temporary work force.  This is not a good sign of things to come.


Get ready for an economic meltdown folks.  While Congress may have avoided an overly dramatic economic collapse back in January, the dreaded slow down in federal spending, known as sequestration looks like it is just around the corner.  The day of reckoning for Northern Virginia is closing in fast.  Here are the latest updates.

Politico reports (01/24) that many local area lawmakers are losing confidence that sequestration can be avoided.   Congressman Jim Moran of Alexandria was quoted as saying that, “In the next three months, six months, I think only bad things can happen.”  Gerry Connolly, another democratic congressman from Northern Virginia also weighed in, saying that approximately 8% of Northern Virginia’s economy is directly threatened by sequestration. 

In a similar report, Josh Hicks from the Washington Post reported in his blog that a growing number of congressmen from both sides of the aisle are resigned to the idea that sequestration will begin shortly after the March 1 deadline.  That said, some leaders believe that sequestration will only be temporary and that spending might be restored as part of some sort of grand bargain on the federal budget.

In other coverage today, Federal News radio reports that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service is planning to implement severe cost cutting measures in anticipation of sequestration.  According to a staff email sent from DFAS Director Terri McKay, these cost cutting measures will include a freeze on new hiring. 

Will March 1^st be the start of the end for a peaceful and prosperous Fairfax County?