Holder: Sequester Will Make Nation Less Safe

The impending budget sequestration will have a negative impact on the safety of the United States, according to Attorney General Eric Holder.

“This is something that is going to have an impact on the safety of this country. And anybody that says otherwise is either lying or saying something that runs contrary to the facts,” Holder told ABC’s Pierre Thomas.

Holder warned that if automatic spending cuts go into effect on Friday, the Justice Department will be crippled when it comes to preventing terrorist attacks and crime.

“The Justice Department is going to lose 9 percent of its budget between now and September 30th. We’re going to lose $1.6 billion. There are not going to be as many FBI agents, ATF agents, DEA agents, prosecutors who are going to be able to do their jobs,” he said.

“They’re going to be furloughed. They’re going to spend time out of their offices, not doing their jobs.”

If the automatic spending cuts are triggered on Friday, “we are going to be a nation that is going to be less safe. And that is simple fact,” Holder said.