Kerry warns sequester would ‘seriously impair’ State Department

Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned against the automatic cuts to defense and discretionary spending scheduled to go into effect March 1, according to multiple reports.

In letter to Senate Appropriations Committee chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Kerry warned that the sequester would "seriously impair" the State Department’s "ability to execute our vital missions of national security, diplomacy and development."

"Our ability to influence and shape world events, protect U.S. interests, increase job-creating opportunities for American businesses, prevent conflict, protect our citizens overseas and defeat terrorism before it reaches our shores depends on day-to-day diplomatic engagement and increased prosperity worldwide," Kerry writes in the letter according to CNN.

Kerry said the cuts would mean $2.6 billion less for essential programs like humanitarian aid, AIDS relief efforts, foreign military financing and security for U.S. overseas diplomats and facilities.

"Our ability to influence and shape world events, protect U.S. interests, increase job-creating opportunities for American businesses, prevent conflict, protect our citizens overseas, and defeat terrorism before it reaches our shores depends on day-to-day diplomatic engagement and increased prosperity worldwide," Kerry writes in the letter.

The letter was sent on Monday, and released to the press on Thursday.

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