Budget Cuts - Sequestration
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In March 2013, budget cuts totaling 5 percent of spending across federal departments are set to go into effect due to an agreement made between Congress and the White House. Cuts to local communities may be closer to 9 percent or more as federal and state programs pass cuts to the local level. NACCHO has provided a memo detailing FY2013 cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This video shows the impact of the cuts to programs across the government that people count on.
The time is now to illustrate what these cuts would mean to local health departments and their ability to protect and improve health across the nation. NACCHO has provided a template with instructions for how to quantify the impact of these cuts on your local health department. You can communicate directly with your members of Congress from NACCHO's Legislative Action Center. |
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On March 1, 2013, the sequester went into effect, automatically cutting federal spending for the remainder of FY2013 and future years. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be cut by approximately $350 million over the next six months. With two-thirds of CDC's funding going to state and local health departments and other community partners, cuts to communities could be as high as $230 million.
Take action to communicate with Members of Congress about what these cuts will mean in your community. More »
The failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to produce a bill by Nov. 23, 2011, identifying budgetary savings of at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years, has triggered an automatic spending reduction process known as sequestration or the sequester.
On March 1, 2013, the sequester went into effect, automatically cutting federal spending for the remainder of FY2013 and future years. Federal spending will be cut evenly between the Department of Defense and non-defense programs. The annual non-defense cuts would come from both mandatory (entitlement) and discretionary programs, although some mandatory programs such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program are exempt.
Automatic, across-the-board cuts are expected at approximately 9 percent for the current fiscal year. NACCHO has produced a chart showing the amount of expected cuts to our priority programs.
- NACCHO fact sheet on sequestration
- Sequestration impact on public health priorities
- What federal officials are saying about sequestration impact on public health
- Coalition for Health Funding letter to Congress
- Washington Post video on the sequestration
- Congressional Budget Office infographic on impact of fiscal tightening
- Report from Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee on the impact of the sequester by state
- Send a letter to your representative and senators
- Sample fact sheet template
- Local health department fact sheets on the impact of the cuts
- More resources from Non-Defense Discretionary (NDD) United
To make sure that cuts do not fall disproportionately on discretionary spending programs like many of those that benefit local health departments, NACCHO is gathering information on what the cuts would mean to the public's health. Please fill out the form below with details of what a 9 percent cut would mean in your program or health department.
These federal cuts may be compounded in your community by further cuts at the local and state level, but at this time we are seeking information on the impact of a 9 percent cut to federal funding to local health departments.