With sequestration set to begin today, both the State of Washington and Indian tribes in the state could face devastating cuts to federal funding that supports education, health care, military bases, and elderly programs. The White House estimates that Washington will lose approximately $11,606,000 in funding for primary and secondary education and that Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 1,000 children. Military cuts would also hit hard in our state. Base operation funding would be cut by about $124 million, and Air Force funding would be cut by about $3 million. The state would also face cuts in health programs and programs for the elderly.
Tribal programs will also face significant cuts. In mid-February, members of the Obama administration testified at the Senate Appropriations Committee about the impact that sequestration would have on Indian communities. Secretary Arne Duncan said that the Department of Education expects the Impact Aid program, which helps schools located on or near reservations, to see an immediate loss of $60 million. Health and Human Services Department Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reported that Indian Health Service will see 3,000 fewer inpatient admissions and 840,000 fewer outpatient visits. Secretary Ken Salazar said that cuts at the Department of Interior would result in tribes' losing about $130 million in funding. Indian education and general assistance for the neediest people on reservations are also expected to be cut.
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