Budget cuts will harm National Guard

Officials: Budget cuts will harm National Guard
By Kevin Wang
Medill News Service
Posted : Thursday Aug 16, 2012

Massive budget cuts that are due to take effect in January if Congress can’t reach a deficit-reduction deal could affect not only the active-duty military but also the National Guard, experts said Tuesday.

At a discussion at the conservative Heritage Foundation, Paul McHale, former assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, and retired Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, former deputy chief of U.S. Northern Command, said the across-the-board budget cuts would jeopardize the Guard’s domestic readiness and are an “irresponsible approach” to U.S. national security.

Under the Budget Control Act passed by Congress last year, federal spending is set to be reduced starting in January by more than $1.2 trillion — automatic, across-the-board cuts known as sequestration that would affect every government agency — if Congress does not act. More than $500 billion would come from the Defense Department budget.

McHale warned that although sequestration will have the most direct impact on the active-duty military, the National Guard cannot avoid cuts to its operational capabilities.

Funding reductions could result in less-trained, less-equipped personnel and longer response periods, he said.

Blum, a former National Guard Bureau chief, said a shrinking budget could mean the Army would have to transfer funding to the National Guard and possibly cover some of its domestic duties.

“It’s very likely that 20,000 National Guard troops will be cut,” McHale warned.
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