The Pentagon will move to protect major weapon programs, including those locked into fixed-price procurement deals, should mandatory U.S. government spending cuts go into effect under sequestration in January.
The Defense Department would also consider furloughing civilian workers as a last-ditch way to pay for combat operations in Afghanistan, should the Pentagon have to absorb a $50 billion sequestration cut to its 2013 budget, Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale said/.../
But DoD could be playing with fire if it relies on lawmakers to shift funding, said Todd Harrison, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
“There’s just a big asterisk there that they are crossing their fingers and hoping that Congress will go along with a reprogramming,” he said. “What if they don’t?”/.../
DoD could take steps now to prepare for and minimize the impact of sequestration, according to Harrison.
“You could have a plan already put together on who you’re going to furlough on day one,” he said. “The sooner you can do that, the fewer people you have to furlough.”