NAPO Washington Reports

Sequestration

May 23, 2013

Sequestration is a series of automatic spending cuts and tax increases that took effect on March 1, 2013.  The cuts include about $100 billion in automatic cuts to defense and domestic government spending. NAPO understands the United States Government’s need to balance its budget.  At the same time, certain core functions of the federal government, including public safety, cannot be shut down. 

The article, “3 Things You Need to Know about Sequestration and Cuts to Federal Public Safety Programs,” provides additional insights on the impact of sequestration on the law enforcement community.  Specifically, the author cautions that continued cutbacks to federal public safety programming, such as the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG) Program and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program, will leave these vital programs unfunded by 2021.  These cuts obstruct the criminal justice system’s ability to respond to crime and support victims.  The article can be found at the following link:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2013/05/21/63954/3-things-you-need-to-know-about-sequestration-and-cuts-to-federal-public-safety-programs/

NAPO appreciates your support as we continue to work with the Administration and Congress to resolve difficult public safety budget issues, as well as advocate for maximum funding for vital federal grant programs, including Byrne-JAG and COPS.