Meat industry may shut down for two weeks; industry responds
The Obama administration warned on Friday that across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect in March may result in furloughing every U.S. meat and poultry inspector for two weeks, causing the meat industry to shut down. Shut the shutdown occur, an estimated $10 billion in production would be lost, reports Reuters, and consumers could see meat shortages and higher prices as a result.
The furlough threat was part of a larger warning from the White House concerning the effects of potential spending cuts on everyday life. President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans still must resolve differences over spending cuts and tax increases, dubbed the "fiscal cliff," which essentially was delayed by both sides from happening on Jan. 1 and was pushed back until March.