![Stories of the Week | PBS NewsHour Podcast | PBS show](https://d3dthqtvwic6y7.cloudfront.net/podcast-covers/000/011/424/small/stories-of-the-week-newshour-with-jim-lehrer-podcast-pbs.jpg)
Summary: Automatic spending cuts will take effect in March if a defense budget deal cannot be reached. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said he may resort to furloughing the department's civilian workers. Judy Woodruff assesses what this new threat means for the U.S. Military with Ashton Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense.