Furlough period begins at midstate military installations

(Annville) — The midstate is starting to feel the effects of federal budget cuts at the Department of Defense, as a result of sequestration.

Furlough days are being implemented at the region’s military installations now through the end of the federal government’s fiscal year on September 30th. Impacted employees will be furloughed one day per week, for a total of 11 days without pay.

Sergeant Matt Jones says it’s affecting about 1,000 National Guard personnel across central Pennsylvania.

“Basically you’re taking all of the federal employees out of those offices for one day a week — for 20% of the time — for the next few months,” Jones says. “As you can imagine, take any office — even in the private sector — and take away up to 20% of its workforce, that’s a very significant impact.”

The furloughs impacts are being felt across the entire DoD. They are also affecting 2,600 civilians and contractors at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County, 700 civilian employees at the Carlisle Barracks and Army War College in Cumberland County, and 3,200 Defense Logistics Agency staff in New Cumberland.

Triggered by federal sequestration, the DOD budget cuts are expected to save $1.8-billion nationwide.