Federal Managers Association
Press Release
- FMA PLEASED WITH DOD'S ANNOUNCEMENT REDUCING FURLOUGH DAYS FROM ELEVEN TO SIX - August 6, 2013
Alexandria, VA - Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Chuck Hagel released a memo to all military departments on August 6, announcing DOD civilian personnel will only be furloughed for six days instead of eleven. Most DOD civilian employees can expect furloughs to end by August 17.
Following a week of speculation, DOD Secretary Chuck Hagel released a memo to department leaders stating instead of eleven furlough days, civilian employees will only experience six. This was accomplished by Congressional approval of reprogramming and the department given greater flexibility with funds. Secretary Hagel outlined in his memo, "Assuming that the majority of employees were furloughed one day per week beginning the week of July 8 this reduction in the number of furlough days will mean that most employees will have achieved six days (48 hours) of furloughs by August 17. However, all civilian employees, unless exempted from furloughs or governed by special rules, must complete six days (48 hours) of furloughs. If they have not accomplished this by August 17, they must do so in a timely manner and before the end of this fiscal year."
Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus commented on the announcement, stating, "FMA is more than pleased to hear DOD's reduction of furlough days. The hard working men and women of the civilian defense personnel are essential to military readiness, at home and abroad, and furloughs did nothing but impede upon fulfilling their departmental missions and goals. They and their families did not deserve to bear the financial brunt of Congress's inability to avoid deep financial cuts to the federal government. It is FMA's hope that members of the House and Senate develop a permanent solution to sequestration and furloughs so that dedicated federal servants, defense and non-defense, do not have to experience this again."To read the full memo from Secretary Hagel, please click here.