Federal Cuts Threaten State’s Military Jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP/WOLO) — South Carolina Republicans say impending across-the-board federal spending cuts will devastate South Carolina’s military bases. Gov. Nikki Haley says the cuts would mean a loss of 14,000 jobs in South Carolina. In addition, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said the military cuts would make the United States vulnerable to enemy attacks, noting each branch of the military stands to lose large numbers of staff and vast amounts of military equipment. The Budget Control Act of 2011 calls for $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts in domestic and military spending over the next 10 years. The cuts are referred to as ‘sequestration.’ They’re due to start in January because a special panel couldn’t reach a deficit reduction deal last summer. Graham has warned that a prime target would be the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is supposed to be based at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort and Shaw Air Force Base outside Sumter.