In just a matter of days, harmful automatic cuts — known as the sequester — take effect, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs, and cutting vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness and our men and women in uniform.

President Obama put forward a plan to avoid these cuts and reduce the deficit by cutting spending and closing tax loopholes. Now it’s up to Congress to act.

Read more about the devastating impact of the sequester, and learn about President Obama’s plan to avoid these cuts.

In Case You Missed It

Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:

Let’s Move Anniversary News: Recipe Partnership Makes It Easy for Families to Eat Healthier at Home Five of America’s largest media companies have identified thousands of recipes that meet USDA‘s MyPlate guidance, making it easier for home cooks to prepare healthy, delicious meals for their families.

President Obama: I Look Forward to Working with Governors to Reignite America’s Economic Engine In meetings with the National Governors Association, the President and Vice President stressed the need for all elected officials to work together to solve our nation’s biggest problems.

First Lady Michelle Obama Challenges Governors of all 50 States to Ease Service Members’ Transition to Civilian Work Force Mrs. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden call on state leaders to streamline credentialing and licensing for service members, veterans and their spouses.