U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) spoke to the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors about a number of federal issues during the board’s Sept. 4 meeting in the colonial courthouse.

Topics covered by the congressman included unfunded mandates being passed down to local governments and dramatic defense cuts that could have catastrophic consequences for Virginia.

In 2011, Wittman said there were over $400 billion of reductions put into law reducing federal spending on national defense. "Now I think that is somewhat of a challenge, but I think what’s happening in Afghanistan and Iraq with the drawdown there, we can accrue those savings and continue to defend this nation," he said.

Sequestration cuts scheduled to take effect in federal defense spending, Wittman said, will potentially have a catastrophic impact on the commonwealth. He estimated a $10 billion impact on the state’s economy, as well as the loss of approximately 200,000 jobs statewide.

Wittman said the Virginia General Assembly is preparing for the impact of that.

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