Mabus on CNN: Sequestration is a ‘Bad Idea’

February 26, 2013 11:16 AM - Updated: February 26, 2013 9:12 PM
Ray Mabus meets with sailors in South Korea on Feb. 19. US Navy Photo
Ray Mabus meets with sailors in South Korea on Feb. 19. US Navy Photo

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus called the mandatory defense sequestration cuts a “bad idea,” on CNN’s Starting Point on Tuesday.

“We’ve got to fix sequestration. We’ve got to fix the continuing resolution. We’ve got to fix the underlying issue and not just play around the edges and try to make a really bad idea somewhat marginally better,” Mabus said on the program.

The Navy will face about $ 9 billion in cuts if the sequestration cuts occur and the ongoing Continuing Resolution stands until the end of the fiscal year. Those cuts would cut deeply into the operations and maintenance of ships and aircraft and could lose Navy civillians 20 percent of their wages through furloughs.

Mabus will accompany President Barrak Obama on a Tuesday visit to the Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
Follow @samlagrone

Get USNI News updates delivered to your inbox