Top US military officers are warning that automatic budget cuts will compromise the armed services' ability to defend the US and could cause higher casualties.
The chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are telling Congress the cuts will force reductions in manpower, training and weapons purchases.
They are getting a sympathetic response from the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Democratic Chairman Carl Levin of Michigan says cuts scheduled for next year will leave the nation less able to defend its global interests.
The automatic cuts are known as the sequester. They happened because Congress failed to reach a budget reduction agreement.
