Washington DC June 6, 2012:  In September 2011, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta compared the mandatory Sequestration defense budget cuts to “shooting ourselves in the head.”  On Wednesday June 6, the Center for Security Policy launched the new 2011 data outlining the economic consequences of these cuts: the “Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Reports.” Footage of the panel discussion launching the 2011 reports can be viewed via livestream at 2pm today at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvsYIHy-2zU (this link will also serve as the location for the archive video of the launch).

 

The reports were created to assist community leaders and citizens in understanding how these defense budget cuts may affect their local businesses and jobs by estimating the economic impacts of the defense budget cuts on cities, counties, congressional districts and states at www.forthecommondefense.org. 

 

A Summary Report (4 pages) for your state can be downloaded here. Highlights from that report are below.  A non-technical FAQ explaining data sources, methodology and future plans for the Defense Breakdown can be read here.

 

Individual State Detailed Reports - found here - are estimates, based on data updated with 2011 numbers, that show the potential state-wide economic impact of defense budget cuts on cities, counties, congressional districts, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and other small business categories, organized with over 2,700 "Contractor location" reports.  The additional set of over 26,000 reports show estimated defense spending cut impacts at the "Place of Performance" - a closer measure for potential job losses - for cities, counties and states, with three separate reports for each location: spending by weapon system, by government contracting office, and by products and services.  

 

At a recent press conference, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) urged Americans “to get a copy of this report to see how it affects the economy and jobs in the country.”  Since the first release in February 2012 of 2010 data, the reports have been used by numerous Governors’ offices, over a hundred offices in the House and Senate, major national veterans’ organizations and grassroots organizations, and political campaigns - all concerned about the impact of the mandated 18% Sequestration defense budget cuts on their local economies. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) refusal to pass a budget, and a White House pledge to “veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts,” make the need to assess economic impacts of Sequestration defense cuts greater than ever before.

 

 

The Center’s “Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Reports” are part of a broader 2012 initiative, the Coalition for the Common Defense, to educate and engage the American public on the importance of maintaining a strong national defense.

 

Regarding the release of the 2011 data, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., President of the Center for Security Policy stated:

 

 

 

The Coalition for the Common Defense is an alliance of like-minded individuals and organizations who believe that without provision for the “common defense,” as articulated by the Founders, the freedom that has allowed unprecedented opportunity and prosperity to flourish in this country would soon be imperiled. In this new age of budgetary cuts, the Coalition rejects the false choice between military strength and economic health contending that economic prosperity depends on a strong national defense. Through a series of events and strategic partnerships, the coalition is calling on elected officials, candidates for office and others who share our commitment to the common defense to uphold these principles.  We must return the United States to sensible fiscal principles without sacrificing our national security.

 

A full statement of principles can be located here. The Coalition of the Common Defense can be found online at www.forthecommondefense.org.

 

 

The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public.