The Progress Report: Devastating Cuts Take Hold

Mar 4, 2013 | by ThinkProgress War Room

Devastating, painful, and, above all, avoidable spending cuts went into effect Friday evening after sequestration became official. Instead of agreeing to a balanced replacement that includes targeted spending cuts and new revenues from closing tax loopholes used by the wealthiest Americans and special interests, Republicans are instead forcing these damaging cuts on the country.

Here’s a look at 32 of the dumbest and most devastating cuts.

Health care

• $20 million cut from the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs
• $10 million cut from the World Trade Center Health Program Fund
• $168 million cut from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• $75 million cut from the Aging and Disability Services Programs

Housing

• $199 million cut from public housing
• $96 million cut from Homeless Assistance Grants
• $17 million cut from Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
• $19 million cut from Housing for the Elderly
• $175 million cut from Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Disaster and Emergency

• $928 million cut from FEMA’s disaster relief money
• $6 million cut from Emergency Food and Shelter
• $70 million cut from the Agricultural Disaster Relief Fund at USDA
• $61 million cut from the Hazardous Substance Superfund at EPA
• $125 million cut from the Wildland Fire Management
• $53 million cut from Salaries and Expenses at the Food Safety and Inspection Service

Obamacare

• $13 million cut from the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program (Co-ops)
• $57 million cut from the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control
• $51 million cut from the Prevention and Public Health Fund
• $27 million cut from the State Grants and Demonstrations
• $44 million cut from the Affordable Insurance Exchange Grants program

Education

• $633 million cut from the Department of Education’s Special Education programs
• $184 million cut from Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research
• $71 million cut from administration at the Office of Federal Student Aid
• $116 million cut from Higher Education
• $86 million cut from Student Financial Assistance

Immigration

• $512 million cut from Customs and Border Protection
• $17 million cut from Automation Modernization, Customs and Border Protection
• $20 million cut from Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology

Security

• $79 million cut from Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance
• $604 million cut from National Nuclear Security Administration
• $232 million cut from the Federal Aviation Administration
• $394 million cut from Defense Environmental Cleanup

BOTTOM LINE:  The worst impacts of the cuts won’t happen overnight, but they will happen. Rather than compromise, Republicans instead appear ready to stand by and watch as our economy and millions of Americans are hurt by these irresponsible and devastating cuts. Their reckless behavior got us into this mess in 2011 and now it’s time for them to come back to the table and help get us out of it before the worst impacts of these indiscriminate cuts happen.

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This material [the article above] was created by the Center for American Progress Action Fund. It was created for the Progress Report, the daily e-mail publication of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Click here to subscribe.