Former Pentagon leaders warn of cuts to National Guard.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: Homeland Security News

Severe cuts to the military that may come as a result of sequestration next year may adversely impact the National Guard, and by extension, domestic security, former Pentagon leaders said.

"The National Guard now plays a vitally important role in terms of our domestic security," said Paul McHale, former assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense. Cuts to its already tight budget will only hurt Americans, he said at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

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Retired Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, former deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command and National Guard chief, agreed that the cuts would devastate the already bare-boned service. Blum likened the potential cuts to a man looking to lose a few pounds--instead of doing it in a healthy way, he just lops off his own head to get the number down. In the same way, he said, the Pentagon and Defense Department will be forced to slash funds irresponsibly...