Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Saturday, July 6, 2013
(GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE) - Automatic cuts in the federal budget known as the Sequester will force government employees to begin unpaid furloughs starting next week.
It will have a big effect in Indiana, where the federal government is the largest employer in the state. The furloughs will last until Sept. 30.
As an example, civilian employees at Grissom Air Reserve base will take 11 furlough days between now and then. In most cases that means one day off per week. It also means a 20 percent reduction in pay over the furlough period.
The furloughs will also be in effect at the Defense Finance and Accounting Services Center known as DFAS in Lawrence. More than 4,000 Defense Department employees there will have to sacrifice.
The DFAS employees News 8 talked with blame Congress for their plight -- Republicans and Democrats -- and they don't believe the people on Capitol Hill understand the impact of their actions.
They also worry that the effects of the sequester will last beyond the end of the budget period in September.
The budget cuts are designed to reduce defense spending by $30 billion for fiscal year 2013 but it could have been worse. The original furlough plan called for twice as many days off.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.