February 25, 2013 1:20PM 

# Sequestration Cuts in Perspective 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

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According to the Congressional Budget Office, the $85 billion in sequestration spending cuts translates into $44 billion reduction in actual federal outlays for 2013. The following chart puts that figure in perspective.

![Media Name: sequestration_cuts_in_perspective.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/sequestration_cuts_in_perspective.jpg?itok=7ENw0-9b) 

To balance the budget this year, the reduction in outlays would have to be *almost 20 times larger*.

One might argue that it isn’t fair to compare the cuts to total spending because sequestration barely touches entitlement spending, which is the budget’s 800-lb gorilla. I acknowledge that sequestration isn’t the ideal for cutting spending. So by all means, let’s target the whole ball of wax and dramatically increase the amount to be cut.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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