Sequester Math

The math that the current regime in Washington, DC is using to describe the impact of the current “sequester” is very interesting. The head of the FAA, Ray LaHood, recently announced the draconian cuts that will have to be made.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been told it must make cuts of around $600 billion as part of the sweeping "sequester" cuts. The FAA has told its 47,000 employees that it has no choice but to consider compulsory unpaid leave for staff, eliminating night shifts, reducing preventative maintenance and closing over 100 air traffic control towers.

Since the entire “cuts” total $85 billion for this year and half of that is DOD “cuts”, then the total for the rest of the federal government is $42.5 billion. Also the “cuts” are in the rate of growth, not real cuts. The actual amount of money everyone has to spend is actually higher than last year.

So where the hell does this $600 billion cut in the FAA funding come from? Fuzzy math if you ask me. I was an Air Traffic Controller and Manager for over 30 years so I know how the budget system works. The panic being spread by DC is pure bull. Don’t believe a word of it.