Tag: Jeffrey Zients

Obama Issues Order Implementing Sequester

Obama Issues Order Implementing Sequester

Carolyn Kaster/AP

In the end, the long-feared sequester of federal funds came swiftly and quietly.

On Friday evening, President Obama issued an order putting sequestration into effect. He was required by law to do so by the end of the day in the absence of a congressional agreement to stop the $85 billion in across-the-board-cuts.

“By the authority vested in me as President by the laws of the United States of America, and in accordance with section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended (the ‘Act’), 2 U.S.C. 901a, I hereby order that budgetary resources in each non-exempt budget account be reduced by the amount calculated by the Office of Management and Budget in its report to the Congress of March 1, 2013,” Obama’s order stated. Continue reading “Obama Issues Order Implementing Sequester”

AFGE union wants contractors to sacrifice before federal workers

AFGE union wants contractors to sacrifice before federal workers
By Lisa Rein , Updated: January 16, 2013 Uscapitolindaylight

Unions representing federal workers have been nothing if not vocal in their conviction that if automatic spending cuts take effect during the battle in Congress over reducing the deficit, contractors should be sacrificed before civil servants.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal union, drew another line in the sand Tuesday in response to a White House memo to agencies to intensify their planning for sequestration, as the $85 billion in budget cuts that could take effect March 1 are called. Continue reading “AFGE union wants contractors to sacrifice before federal workers”

Fiscal 2014 budget delayed, OMB confirms, citing uncertainty

Fiscal 2014 budget delayed, OMB confirms, citing uncertainty

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. J. Scott Applewhite/AP File Photo

Acting White House budget director Jeffrey Zients has confirmed that the Obama administration’s fiscal 2014 budget will be not be ready by the normal release date in early February.

In a newly released Jan. 11 letter responding to an inquiry from House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Zients said the “considerable uncertainty” created by the “protracted fiscal cliff negotiations” means “the administration was forced to delay its fiscal 2014 budget preparations, which in turn will delay the budget’s submission to Congress.” Continue reading “Fiscal 2014 budget delayed, OMB confirms, citing uncertainty”

Sequestration would mean tens of thousands of furloughs

Sequestration would mean tens of thousands of furloughs

Sep. 24, 2012 – 07:48AM   |
By SEAN REILLY   |   2  Comments
 “We're talking about at least tens of thousands [of employees furloughed] if it [sequestration] goes on a couple of months,” says John Palguta, above, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service.
“We’re talking about at least tens of thousands [of employees furloughed] if it [sequestration] goes on a couple of months,” says John Palguta, above, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service. (Staff file photo)

For large swaths of the federal workforce, automatic budget cuts set to take effect early next year would mean unpaid furloughs, according to current and former officials.

“We’re talking about at least tens of thousands [of employees] if it goes on a couple of months,” said John Palguta, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service.

Particularly hard-hit could be agencies in which payroll and benefits make up a high percentage of the budget, such as the Social Security Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and National Archives and Records Administration, Palguta said. Continue reading “Sequestration would mean tens of thousands of furloughs”

OMB sequestration report incomplete, senators say

OMB sequestration report incomplete, senators say

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.S
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Two Republican senators on Thursday criticized the Office of Management and Budget for failing to provide what they say is legally mandated analysis in its recent report on the looming spending cuts slated for 2013.

In a letter to acting OMB Director Jeffrey Zients, Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., accused the office of dragging its feet all year long and for failing in its report to explain the impact the cuts will have at the program, project, and activity level. Continue reading “OMB sequestration report incomplete, senators say”

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