Panetta notifies Congress of worker furlough if cuts occur

[DonViejo]

Source: Bloomberg



By Bloomberg News
This article was published today at 9:08 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said he notified Congress of plans to impose furloughs on the Pentagon’s civilian employees should automatic budget cuts take effect March 1 and “continue for a substantial period.”

Panetta said in a message Wednesday to about 800,000 Department of Defense employees that the “vast majority” of them would have to take unpaid leave and that they would get at least 30 days’ notice if that is to happen.

“We are doing everything possible to limit the worst effects on DoD personnel but I regret that our flexibility within the law is extremely limited,” Panetta said. “The president has used his legal authority to exempt military personnel funding from sequestration, but we have no legal authority to exempt civilian personnel funding from reductions.”

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last week in congressional testimony said furloughs are likely to average one day a week for as many as 22 weeks, resulting in a 20 percent cut in pay for civilians.

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Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/feb/20/panetta-notifies-congress-worker-furlough-if-cuts-/?f=latest

[L0oniX]

1. I'm fine with that. Wages from war get no support or respect from me. You work for the machine...

then you take the chance. If it's them or those dependant on SS and Medicaid and Medicare then I side with the elderly and disabled. If they want to defend me against terrorists then let em stop the asshole drivers who are risking my neck with their reckless driving. I'm sure the generals will not get laid off and will keep their entitlements no matter what happens to the rest of us.

[Katashi_itto]

2. Ummm Righttt...remember that when the Air Traffic controllers go

on furlough.

Or Meat shortages start due to no meat inspectors.

Easy to talk about DoD.

I am not remotely DoD. We are looking at furlough too....and then wait till it filters over to the Contractors. Hundreds of thousands of them.

Personally I sort of look at as a good thing since I am in school and, I also have massive savings. But for the average Govt worker?


I agree DoD needs to be reduced, but that money should be shifted to infrastructure.

Current estimates put us at needing 1.5 trillion in infrastructure repair.

But the sequester will make one thing apparent, it will put to bed the Myth, that Govt doesnt create jobs.

[NutmegYankee]

3. I never thought I'd see attacks on Civil Servants on a liberal website.

Obviously I was wrong!