Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta briefed reporters at the Veterans Affairs offices in Washington, D.C., on joint departmental efforts to assist military personnel re-entering civilian life. They also talked about the impact that sequestration would have on veterans if no agreement is reached on the “fiscal cliff.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated that the Syrian government would face serious consequences if it used weapons of mass destruction against rebels. 
“Fiscal cliff” refers to the impending tax increases and budget cuts at the end of 2012 if Congress failed to reach a budget agreement. "Sequestration," a legal procedure in which automatic budget cuts are triggered, was agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011. Roughly $500 billion would be cut from the Defense Department budget in January 2013.