Even as the 12 members of the Joint Deficit Reduction Committee (supercommittee) continued private meetings this week, lawmakers and Pentagon officials continued to come out against the automatic cuts that would be triggered if the committee did not approve a deficit reduction deal of at least $1.2 trillion because of their impact on the Department of Defense. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) publicly stated that if the supercommittee failed to reach a deal to reduce the deficit, he would “be among the first on the floor to nullify that provision” calling for sequestration. “It’s something we passed,” he said. “We can reverse it.” Additionally, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stated earlier this year that “these triggers are ill designed, they are unfair and they would devastate the Department of Defense.” He also noted that “I will do everything I can between now and then to replace the triggers.” If the supercommittee does not agree to at least $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction, then the remaining amount is automatically cut from the federal budget with half of the cuts coming from the Department of Defense and half from certain domestic programs other than Social Security, Medicaid, veteran benefits, and military pay which are exempt.