How many teachers stand to lose their jobs?

An official report published by the Obama administration outlines gives us an idea by outlining exactly which services will be cut and to what degree. Here are five key areas which are considered to have the potential for the most widespread effects.

The US Military will lose billions:

At the forefront of the impending sequester cuts are those to the military, which will face decreased federal funding to most programs by 9.4 percent. As stated by The New York Times, sequestration will not only affect the Air Force and Navy -- which will lose over $4.2 billion in funding -- but the Defense Department as well, which will lose $3.9 billion.

It is also important to note that $1.3 billion will be taken away from the budget allocated for strengthening Afghanistan’s security force -- before the United States forces have completely withdrawn.

Medicare providers will be responsible for more of each patient's expenses: 

Medicare subscribers won’t face a direct hit from the sequester, but healthcare providers will. With over $5.8 billion in overall cuts and $591 million in cuts to prescription drug benefits, healthcare providers will be responsible for more of each patient’s expenses. As stated in the The New York Times, “The impact on health care professionals could affect the elderly if deep cuts prompt doctors and hospitals to shun Medicare patients.”

However with these cuts especially, it is difficult to determine how exactly they will play out for individual subscribers until the budget is decreased.

Sequestration cuts could hurt needy students:

Advocates for public education are very worried about the cuts that will come if the sequester is passed. Many public schools around the country have been forced to lay off teachers and cut resources for the past several years, and further cuts would mean even fewer resources for students.

The services that would lose the most money would be those for poor students, those for special needs students, and Head Start Program.

According to an article in Huffington Post, “As many as 15,000 teachers and aides could lose their jobs, and 10,000 special education workers could be laid off.”           

Less money for border patrol:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement have already started to brace for the impending cuts. According to a Los Angeles Times article, officials released hundreds of detained immigrants Tuesday in an effort to get a head start on the government cuts proposed by the sequester. According to ICE, the immigrants are considered to be “noncriminal” and will still face potential deportation.

Their budget would be cut by $823 million in addition to a $33 million cut from the funds for the fence along the border of the U.S. and Mexico.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has already voiced her concerns about the loss in border security that will ensue.

“Between the ports of entry, if you reduce the number of Border Patrol agents, I think you can say, yes, it does affect our ability to keep out illegal migrants and others trying to enter the country,” she said in a press conference at the White House.

Less money for embassy security:

One of the effects that we likely won’t notice in our daily lives but that could have major implications on foreign policy are the planned cuts to funding for diplomatic endeavors.

As the New York Times article stated, “And, particularly relevant at a moment when world attention is focused on the continuing attacks on United States embassies and consulates abroad, diplomatic programs and embassy security would lose $1.2 billion.”

Reach Hayley Burgess here.