California could lose 64,000 defense jobs, White House warns

Federal budget cuts are likely to pinch states at the local level if Congress doesn't reach a spending deal by March 1.

By Matt Pearce and Connie Stewart

Feb. 25, 2013 12 AM PT

California could lose 64,000 defense jobs if looming federal budget cuts start to take effect this week, the White House warned.

The administration released a state-by-state breakdown of how $85 billion in spending reductions will play out if lawmakers fail to reach a deal. The cuts are due to begin Friday.

The budget cuts stem from the “sequester,” which Congress passed and the president signed in 2011 as a way to force themselves to find more palatable federal spending reductions. Because no agreement was reached, across-the-board spending cuts will take a toll on domestic and military programs.

Few people support across-the-board reductions, but lawmakers appear powerless to find a way around them -- at least for now. Recent polls have shown that the public is more likely to blame Republicans if the cuts take effect.

President Obama is leading a campaign to spell out the consequences of the reductions. As part of that effort, the White House released the state-by-state breakdown on Sunday. According to the report, California’s losses would include:

More than $87 million for primary and secondary education, and nearly $63 million for educating children with disabilities.
More than $12 million in environmental funding, and nearly $2 million for fish and wildlife protection.
About 64,000 civilian defense jobs, and millions in funding for military bases.
About $15 million in public health funding, which would reduce the number of children who receive vaccines, the number of HIV tests and the state’s ability to respond to public health issues.
More than $5 million for providing meals to seniors.

Other California programs facing reductions include law enforcement, Head Start and job-search assistance.

Effects on other states would include:

27,000 civilian Department of Defense employees in Alabama would be furloughed.
240 teacher and teacher’s aid jobs would be at risk in Arizona.
$482,000 in law-enforcement funding would be lost in Michigan.
2,500 fewer Missouri children would receive vaccines for diseases such as rubella, Hepititis B and tetanus.
About 3,320 fewer low-income Ohio students would get financial aid for college and about 1,450 fewer students would get work-study jobs to help pay for school.
700 fewer New Jersey women would get domestic-abuse services.
Texas would lose $3.6 million to pay for meals for the elderly.

View the report for your state: