How the Federal Budget Sequester Will Affect the Fire and Emergency Service

Fairfax, Va., March 4, 2013 - On the evening of March 1, President Obama signed the order mandating the automatic $85 billion across-the-board cut to federal programs, known as sequestration. For nondefense discretionary programs (which includes most federal programs that support the fire and emergency service), these cuts amounted to 5% of the programs’ funding.

Here’s how the federal government programs that affect the fire and emergency service are affected:

• The U.S. Fire Administration will be cut by $2 million.
• DHS State and Local Programs (including the FIRE and SAFER grant programs) will be cut by a total of $117 million.
• The U.S. Forest Service’s wildland-fire management account will be cut by $125 million.
• The U.S. Department of Interior’s wildland-fire management account will be cut by $38 million.
• The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's Hazardous Materials Safety Account will be cut by $2 million and the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants will be cut by $1 million.
• Medicare will reduce reimbursements to providers by 2% starting on April 1, and there may be a delay in receiving reimbursements. 

It is important to recognize that Assistance to Firefighters, Fire Prevention and Safety and SAFER grants awarded with fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding or earlier are not affected by these cuts. These cuts only affect FY 2013 funding. In addition, the 2013 application periods for these programs may be delayed.

Congress must pass the FY 2013 appropriations for the federal government by March 27. There may be some changes to the funding levels of federal fire service programs, and the IAFC will keep you informed.

“It's absolutely critical that the fire and emergency service demonstrate to the public that we remain steadfast in our ability to keep a calm head, assess the facts and demonstrate leadership," said Chief Hank Clemmensen, the IAFC’s president and chairman of the board.

What You Can Do

As you begin to formulate your plan to respond to the sequestration’s potential impact on your department, keep the following points in mind:

• Know the facts. Understand the current facts and constantly reassess the situation as it develops. Make sure to talk with your federal partners to understand how these cuts will directly affect you. Every federal agency is handling sequestration differently, resulting in confusing media reports. The IAFC will keep you posted on developments in Washington, but rumors, news reports and speculation will likely be constant. Make sure the facts are confirmed before commenting or acting on such reports.  
• Collect your data. Data will help you understand what resources are available to respond to this situation. Assess your budget: how much of it is dependent on federal or state funds? What likely impacts will the sequestration have in your community? How will that affect your department?
• Develop a plan of attack. Attack the problem, not people. Joining the chorus of yelling and finger-pointing won't help your department or community. Talk to your community--the public, elected officials and union counterparts--as soon as possible. Remember to speak directly and professionally in all of your discussions and statements. Make sure to point out specific problems and offer solutions and data, not threats or scare tactics.
• Align the troops and give clear direction. Like any incident commander, you need to ensure your personnel are well informed and given clear direction. Make sure everyone in your department understands the facts and are empowered to provide leadership to the community. Don't censor your troops, but review the SOPs or professional expectations surrounding social media and public comment. Consider developing an internal mechanism to allow venting of frustration, collection of ideas and feedback and rumor-busting. Engage local allies early. Work together to develop solutions to financial challenges.
• Work with the media, not for the media. The media and the fire service can work together to help educate and calm the public. Provide all media factual and appropriate information relating to the impact of the sequestration on your department. If a media outlet is known to have questionable tactics, ask for the questions in writing. Be careful of media events that want to use the fire department as a prop for their own success or agenda.  
• Stay tuned in with the IAFC. The  IAFC will continue to address this issue by working with sound, bipartisan leaders in Washington, D.C., state leadership organizations and other national fire and emergency service organizations. Strategy and constructive, unified  action will see us through.
  
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