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The White House says about 12,000 civilians who work for the defense department in New York would be furloughed and funding for the operation of Army bases in the state would be cut by $108 million.
The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers are based on the $85 billion in cuts that are set to take effect Friday, as part of a state-by-state rundown of what could be in jeopardy.
Meanwhile Congressman Brian Higgins, (D-Buffalo) is out with his own breakdown of threatened projects, including at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, and in the Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo Office.
Higgins says the cuts would force the Air Force to delay construction of a $6.1 million flight simulator at the Air Base and could also jeopardize maintenance work at the Buffalo Harbor, Black Rock Lock, and elsewhere."While there can be no doubt that federal government spending must be cut, the simple fact is that 'sequestration,' as Congress currently faces it, represents precisely the wrong way to go about it. Sequestration is not thoughtful. Sequestration is not deliberative. Sequestration is an irresponsible response to what Congress must address as a serious issue," Higgins wrote in a summary of the possible ill effects if implemented.
The spending cuts have frustrated governors attending the National Governors Association meeting in Washington. They contend it has created widespread uncertainty in the economy and hampered economic recovery in their states.
"The No. 1 risk, in my view, to the continuing economic comeback of Michigan is the federal government," Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican and former business executive, said in an interview. Snyder said many companies remain in limbo on whether to invest in their business because of the financial uncertainty.
As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.Republican leaders were not impressed by the state-by-state reports.
"The White House needs to spend less time explaining to the press how bad the sequester will be and more time actually working to stop it," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner.
From Cong. Higgins's office, here's the entire list of (local) projects that could be jeopardized by the cutsAviation Safety:
- FAA will be unable to prioritize the implementation of 3407 reforms that we passed.
- 10% of FAA’s workforce would be “on furlough” on any given day resulting in reduced air traffic control.
- Would close air traffic tower at Niagara Falls and eliminate an overnight shift at BNIA.
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
- Air Force will be forced to delay construction of the $6.1 million flight simulator.
- 2,300 Air Force civilians in New York State, including at NFARS, will be furloughed, causing $17.7 million in lost wages across the state.
Border:
- DHS Secretary Napolitano says could cause 4 hour delays at border crossings.
- CBP would have to eliminate 2,750 CBP Officers and 5,000 Border Patrol Agents.
Great Lakes:
- Would slow cleanup and time sensitive construction of barriers to keep out the Asian Carp.
- Safety: Coast Guard would curtail air and surface operations by nearly 25%.
Medical Research
- $1.6 billion cut from NIH.
- Fewer and smaller grants to research institutes.
- Loss of more than 20,000 jobs.
Social Security
- SSA will complete 20,000 fewer retirement claims, 10,000 fewer disability claims, and 3,000 fewer disability hearings per day.
- Beneficiaries will have longer wait times on phone and at offices.
Health Care via Centers for Disease Control Grants
- 25,000 fewer breast and cervical exams.
- 424,000 fewer HIV tests.
- 540,000 fewer doses of vaccine against hepatitis, flue, measles and whooping cough.
Food Safety
- 2,100 fewer food inspections.
Education
- 70,000 young children would be kicked off Head Start. 30,000 kids would lose child care assistance.
- 7,400 special education teachers, aides, and staff could be cut.
- Title I cuts would deny funding to 2,500 schools and lay off 10,500 teachers and aides.
Law Enforcement
- Loss of 775 FBI agents.
- Loss of 145 U.S. Attorney positions, who will be unable to bring 2,600 cases.
Employment
- Construction of Job Corps centers will be halted and 15 offices will close.
- Cuts to job training programs at career centers will be cut, especially tough for returning veterans.
Social Services
- 600,000 low income women, infants and children dropped from WIC.
- 4 million fewer meals to seniors served by Meals on Wheels.
- LIHEAP has been cut 32% since 2010 and would be cut another $185 million.
- 100,000 homeless people won’t be housed this year.
Army Corps
- 43 Operation & Maintenance projects would be dropped; Buffalo Harbor, Black Rock Lock, others could be eliminated.
Research
- 1,000 fewer National Science Foundation grants.
