Huerta Says Sequester Budget Cuts Will Force Furloughs, Republicans Skeptical

In testimony before the House Transportation Committee's Aviation Subcommittee Tuesday, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (pictured) said that because a very large portion of the DOT’s budget is exempt from the sequester, the FAA will take more than 60 percent of the sequester cuts for all of the DOT, "even though our agency makes up only about 20 percent of the department’s budget."

And, he said, because the airport grant program also is exempt from the sequester, the agency has limited choices as to where to cut the money.

Reuters reports that the move could mean the closing of more than 100 control towers at smaller airports around the country, and reduced operating hours at as many as 60 others, including large commercial airports.

"We’re looking at a hiring freeze, and at cutting contracts and travel and other items not related to day-to-day operations. But, to reach the large figure we need to cut, we have little choice but to make up the rest through furloughing employees," Huerta said in his prepared remarks to the House panel. "This is not something that we take lightly.   

"Unlike a government shutdown, under the sequester, almost all of our employees would be affected, even what we would traditionally call “essential personnel.” The vast majority of our employees, including “essential workers” would have to be furloughed."

He said delays of up to 90 minutes at airports would be common under the sequester scenario.

But Republican committee members expressed skepticism about the draconian cuts outline by the Administrator. In a news release from the committee's GOP leadership, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) (pictured) said “For months, this committee has been asking the FAA for data about their sequester plans. For months, this committee has received nothing in response.

"Given an opportunity to provide those answers today (Tuesday), the FAA again failed to do so.  Administrator Huerta repeatedly responded to questions today by saying that the agency was still looking at where it will find savings.  When asked about the agency’s plan, Huerta said the FAA has developed an “internal proposal of a way to get there, and now we’ve begun the process of working with all of the stakeholders across the industry.”
 
“I find it troubling that the FAA and the Administration are still figuring out how to make these cuts but continue to raise the alarm about furloughs and increased delays,” Shuster said.
 
“The FAA can and must find every way to meet the required cuts while ensuring the safety and security of the traveling public,” said Aviation Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ). “This is something that I feel confident the FAA can do.”

During the hearing, Representative Shuster questioned Huerta about the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization budget, the account that includes funding for air traffic controllers.  The sequester will require $30 million per month in reductions to this $7.4 billion account.  When asked whether the FAA could identify such savings without furloughing controllers, Huerta said the agency was still looking and admitted the agency had flexibility to move funds within the ATO account.
 
Shuster said, “I find it hard to believe that you can’t find $30 million in savings per month, out of a pot of $7.4 billion.”

FMI: www.faa.gov, http://transportation.house.gov