Politics & Government
Federal Worker Furloughs Could Begin April 21
Defense Department would see the largest number of furloughs.
Furloughs, one of the most feared effects of sequestration, could start as early as April 21 at the U.S. Department of Defense.
Recent machinations in the Senate to keep the federal government functioning beyond the impending March 27 expiration of stopgap funding are likely to leave the sequestration cuts in place, prompting the potential furlough of thousands of federal workers, The Washington Post reported.
The so-called “continuing resolution” also would extend the lack of federal salary increases. Federal salaries have remained flat since January 2010.
Find out what's happening in Upper Marlborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Another Post article detailed the furloughs, half of which would be absorbed by the military. Defense Department officials notified a majority of the department's 800,000 civilian employees that they are still likely to face one unpaid day per week—up to 22 total days, beginning in April.
Find out what's happening in Upper Marlborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Courtney Rowe, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said that more than 9,000 meat inspectors will have to take 11 unpaid days, beginning in July.
Other federal agencies affected include: the Justice Department (116,000 employees), the Environmental Protection Agency (17,000 employees), and Customs and Border Protection (60,000).
This is the first time in history that federal workers will have “no chance” to recover the lost pay incurred by being furloughed, The Post reported.