President Obama called for Congress to end the “foolish” budget cuts required under sequestration, arguing that lawmakers should feel empowered because “deficits are falling at the fastest rate in decades.”

“I’ll keep fighting to end those foolish across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester, which is threatening our readiness,” Obama told the Naval Academy Class of 2013 during commencement today. “With deficits falling at the fastest rate in decades, it’s time for Congress to budget in a smarter way that protects middle-class priorities, preserves investments in our future, and keeps our military strong — because we have the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped military in history, and I am determined to keep it that way, and Congress should be, too.”