KEYC - Mankato News, Weather, Sports - - Federal Spending Cuts Already Hitting The Military

Federal Spending Cuts Already Hitting The Military

Posted: Updated:
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:05 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:05:42 GMT
    Authorities are on the scene this hour after a helicopter crash on the east side of the Twin Cities metro.
    Authorities are on the scene this hour after a helicopter crash on the east side of the Twin Cities metro.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:02 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:02:57 GMT
    A new poll shows more than half of Minnesotans surveyed are happy with Governor Mark Dayton's performance.
    A new poll shows more than half of Minnesotans surveyed are happy with Governor Mark Dayton's performance.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:00 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:00:23 GMT
    President Obama is wrapping up a whirlwind 26-hour visit to Berlin. A huge crowd cheered for President Obama as he arrived with Germany's leaders at the Brandenburg Gate.
    President Obama is wrapping up a whirlwind 26-hour visit to Berlin. A huge crowd cheered for President Obama as he arrived with Germany's leaders at the Brandenburg Gate.
WASHINGTON D.C. -

Sequestration. It's a big Washington, D.C. word that means the government is preparing to cut $1.2 trillion from the American budget starting March first. But the cuts are already hitting the military.The USS Truman was scheduled to pull out of Norfolk, Virginia tomorrow to head to the Persian Gulf. But Wednesday afternoon word came that the Truman will stay in port, in order to save money.

The Pentagon is cutting U.S. Aircraft carriers presence overseas ahead of $55 billion in budget cuts that kick in March first. (

 The idea behind sequestration was that the budget cuts were supposed to be so objectionable here on Capitol Hill that Congress would agree on alternatives. That's proven to be easier said than done. If Washington can't agree on a plan, some economists say up to one million people could lose their jobs. Secretary Panetta says the DOD is preparing to furlough as many as 800-thousand civilian workers and another 46-thousand face losing their jobs altogether as a result of the cuts to the military.