Sequestration protection

If sequestration were to take place next fiscal year, the Obama administration wants to make sure military personnel are exempted.

In an Aug. 10 memo to Congress, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan notifies lawmakers of the administration's "intent to exempt all military personnel accounts, including Coast Guard personnel accounts, from any discretionary cap sequestration in FY 2017, if a sequestration is necessary."

Such an action "is considered to be in the national interest to safeguard the resources necessary to compensate the men and women serving to defend our Nation and to maintain the force levels required for national security," the memo states, adding: "This action would trigger a higher reduction in non-exempt accounts."