Kaine Statement On Impact Of Sequester Cuts Outlined In Pentagon's Strategic Review

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Department of Defense’s Strategic Choices and Management Review, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s announcement that sequester cuts could result in the U.S. Navy reducing its carrier groups from 11 to eight or nine:

“Secretary Hagel’s announcement about the Strategic Choices and Management Review should be yet another wake up call to Congress about the harmful impacts of sequester.  I’ve always said that our defense strategy should drive our budget, rather than our budget driving the strategy.  We are now in a situation where budgetary uncertainty is forcing the Department of Defense to make choices that will directly impact our personnel and our nation’s readiness.  We’re finally hearing specifics from the Pentagon about how sequester level cuts will have a drastic impact on both personnel and readiness.  There is the potential of cutting military and civilian jobs by 20 percent and reducing our Naval fleet to nine carrier strike groups which significantly limits our Navy’s global presence and puts our nation at risk.”

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