SPECIAL REPORT

The Threat of Sequestration

As Congress and the White House wrangle over long-term fiscal issues, the prospect looms of automatic, across the board cuts in discretionary federal spending -- a process known as sequestration. Check back to this page often for the latest updates on how the situation is unfolding.
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SPECIAL REPORT

Defense Furlough Decision Coming Soon

May 1 Pentagon admits some services could afford to eliminate furloughs.

Dr. Sam Simon chops corn on his dairy farm outside Hyde Park, N.Y.

Agriculture Department Might Escape Furloughs

May 1 Farm Service Agency is latest to be spared; Rural Development employees will know their fate by late May.

Air traffic controllers will be among those furloughed.

Furlough Watch: Agency-by-Agency Impacts of Sequestration

May 1 Some agencies are avoiding unpaid leave altogether, while others require days of it.

Hagel Seeks Furlough 'Consistency and Fairness' Across Defense

May 1 Union decries move to force unpaid leave equally on the department's civilians.

Did FAA Play Politics in Applying Sequester Law?

April 30 Budget experts say flexibility was minimal before passage of bill to cancel air traffic furloughs.

Analysis: The Shameful Sequester Vote

April 29 Wouldn't it be nice if Congress protected the poor as much as annoyed upper-middle-class flyers?

A Playbook for Undoing the Sequester

April 26 Congress' reversal of FAA furloughs set off a special interests race to push for other exemptions.

Congress Agrees to End FAA Furloughs

April 26 President expected to sign what White House calls a ‘Band-Aid’ measure.

DHS' Janet Napolitano will donate 5 percent of her salary to foundations that benefit DHS employees

Who's Forfeiting Pay Alongside Furloughed Employees?

April 26 From the White House to Capitol Hill, a growing list of top officials show solidarity.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., called a Democratic plan to halt sequestration "budget cowardice on the backs of our warfighters."

Senators Pitch Dueling Plans to Reverse Furloughs

April 25 Great divide remains in sequestration replacement debates.

The Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

No Furloughs at Justice

April 25 Employees won’t have to take unpaid leave because of sequestration in fiscal 2013.

Chuck Hagel recently told a House panel that further action on furloughs would be decided in the coming weeks.

Lawmakers Urge 'Merit-Based' Furlough Decisions at Defense

April 24 Current cuts reward inefficient agencies, 126 legislators say.

Attorney General Eric Holder

Justice Wins Flexibility to Avert Furloughs

April 24 Appropriators approve department’s request to shift money in budget to pay employee salaries.

“As we implement the furloughs, we refuse to sacrifice safety, even if means less efficient operations,” FAA's Michael Huerta said Wednesday.

Aviation Chief, GOP Lawmakers Clash Over FAA Furloughs

April 24 As flight delays top 1,200, appropriators say February warning was not enough.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Reid Proposes Temporary Sequestration Suspension

April 24 Bill would use reduced wartime spending to pay for delay through September.

Sailors line the deck of the USS Wasp as she sails by the Statue Of Liberty, in New York, to participate in 2012 Fleet Week activities,

New York Fleet Week Is Officially Scuttled by the Sequester

April 24 The U.S. Navy has announced a full retreat from the New York City celebration.

Army Secretary John McHugh, left, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, arrive on Capitol Hill  to testify for the hearing on the Defense Department budget requests for Fiscal 2014

Full Sequestration Would Force Army to Drop 100,000 Soldiers, Officials Say

April 23 Reservist unemployment at all-time high due to over-deployment.

Airlines Warn FAA Furloughs Eating Into April Earnings

April 23 Conference and travel restrictions have also been a blow to the industry.

Lockheed Martin Fears $825 Million Hit From Sequestration

April 23 Company still awaits guidance on specific federal program cuts.

Travelers stand in a long line at Los Angeles International Airport Monday.

FAA Steps Up Flight Delay Warnings as Furloughs Are Challenged in Court

April 22 Airline industry and pilots association ask appeals court to halt sequester of funds.