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Federal employee and management groups sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reject proposals to cut workforce benefits made by the Deficit Commission. The letter comes on the heels of a new bill to codify many of the commission\'s recommendations.
Fifteen contract laboratory workers are being laid off at Fort Detrick because of budget cuts at the Department of Homeland Security, AP reports.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to spend the morning detailing for members of Congress his internal cost-cutting measures, which he said in August would save the department $100 billion over five years. Analysts said the effort was intended to preempt any budget cuts that Congress might force on the department.
Incoming House Speaker John Boehner says his party\'s goal is to give the government back to the people. But first, reminds the managing editor of The Hill, they\'ll need to figure out a way to fund it in 23 working days or less to avoid a shutdown.
In a meeting with members of Congress and industry association leaders this week, DoD officials said proposed cuts to Defense contracting will only impact a small subset of the department\'s service contracting budget. DoD officials said they are looking at contracts that support staff augmentation and other similar support service contracts.
In addition to cuts in federal pay and furloughs for government workers the commission also wants to roll back defense spending. Carl Conetta, Co-Director of the Project on Defense Alternatives, says we\'re on the right track with defense cuts.
The Pentagon\'s primary purchasing agency is steeling itself for the possible impact of large-scale changes to its budget in the weeks and months ahead as DoD prepares the 2012 budget. The Defense Logistics Agency used a recent conference to inform the vendor community about its plans to save money.
Five days after proposing controversial cuts in Pentagon spending, much of official Washington still is reeling. Defense Secretary Gates called for $100 billion in spending reductions over the next five years. Some of the proposals to achieve those savings are finding mixed reaction among officials on Capitol Hill and in industry.
Pentagon officials also suggest to cut 10 percent of the contractor workforce by 2011. The proposal to eliminate JFCOM comes as the Defense Business Board outlines several areas where DoD can reduce its expenses.
Peter Orszag telling agencies to look for places to cut 5% of discretionary spending.
Former OMB officials say having solid data on why certain programs need to be ended or cut is key to making this initiative work. OMB directs agencies to suggest which low performing programs or those outside of the agency\'s mission to target for termination or reduction by Sept. 13.
The budget cut being imposed on federal agencies won\'t impact all of them the same way. Some may freeze hiring, most will cut travel and training first. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says this isn\'t the end of civilization as we know it but it could be a kick in the slats for the prosperous Washington metro area.