Sequestration would not be a disaster, analysts say

Despite the rhetoric by Pentagon brass, lawmakers and industry executives, several nonpartisan Washington think tanks believe sequestration might be manageable, reports Defense News.

For example, the Bipartisan Policy Center estimates that even if the sequestration cuts stick, the annual Pentagon budget would drop below $500 billion for just one year, return to current levels by 2017 and approach $600 billion by 2020, the story said.

For its part, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments believes the Defense Department could avoid canceling key weapons programs, laying off troops and scaling back benefits, the story said.

The $500 billion in sequester cuts would be parceled out at $50 billion annually over 10 years; even at that rate, Washington likely still would spend more on its military than the rest of the world combined, the story said.