Defense Department Cut By 5% Over 5 Years

The Senate has moved forward with a plan to cut the Defense Department civilian workforce by 5 percent over the next five years. A measure striking that provision was defeated. The measure was offered by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who called the cuts a second sequestration. Cardin said that now, the 2013 Defense Authorization bill would mean the loss of 36,000 civilian jobs, plus more in the Defense industry. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) put the cuts into the bill. He thinks cuts in uniformed ranks should be accompanied by a civilian force reduction. The White House has threatened to veto the Senate bill in its current form.