The failure of the U.S. Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to reach a deal on a new deficit-reduction plan will trigger automatic spending cuts in 2013 that could cripple many of the agencies the nation’s air transportation system needs to operate safety and efficiently, according to the ranking member of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations. While the so-called supercommittee had until November 23 to produce a plan, the members conceded defeat on Monday, November 21.
In a letter sent last month to members of the supercommittee, Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) calculated how the 7.8-percent reduction on discretionary appropriations for nondefense programs would affect the Federal Aviation Administration, for example. Although each agency would need to determine for itself how to accomplish the spending cuts imposed upon it, the assessment comes as a sobering reminder of what could transpire.
