In Washington, as the so-called sequester neared, a coalition of close to one hundred Christian leaders urged Congress to prevent cuts to poverty programs from going into effect. In what they described as a pastoral letter, the leaders, both liberal and conservative, called for an end to political brinksmanship which they said has prevented a “sound and moral path” to fiscal sustainability. The group acknowledged Congress had agreed to protect certain programs that help low-income Americans, but they said more needs to be done to reduce hunger and poverty.