Sequestration

Budget sequestration or sequester as defined in the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA), is the cancellation of budgetary resources provided by discretionary appropriations or direct spending laws. New budget authority, unobligated balances, direct spending authority, and obligation limitations are “sequestrable” resources; that is, they may be subject to reduction or cancellation under a presidential sequester order.

Example of sequester

Upon President Barack Obama's historic 2008 election, self-identified communist and Progressive activist Mark Rudd observed,

“

Obama is a very strategic thinker. He knew precisely what it would take to get elected and didn't blow it. He used community organizing methods... And I agree with this strategy. Anything else will court sure defeat. Move on the stuff you can to a small but significant extent, gain support and confidence. Leave the military alone because they're way too powerful. For now, until enough momentum is raised. By the second or third year of this recession, when stimulus is needed at the bottom, people may begin to discuss cutting the military budget...

”

On December 5, 2012 it was reported that the Pentagon on instructions from the White House Office of Management and Budget, began planning to use sequestration to cut Congressionally mandated military and defense spending.