Federal Managers Association

Opinions & Editorials

• FMA REGION 2 DIRECTOR QUINLAN SPEAKS OUT ON SEQUESTRATION AND FURLOUGHS - July 11, 2013

• Sequester hits home at NAS JAX

  By Dora Quinlan, Florida Times Union

  Beginning Friday for 11 consecutive Fridays, I along with thousands of NAS Jacksonville employees will be furloughed form the largest industrial employer in Northeast Florida.

  Jacksonville is a military town and the local economy will definitely be negatively impacted.

  While the furlough negatively impacts employee morale, most employees like me are dedicated patriots willing to do whatever it takes to ensure war fighters get the mission critical support that federal workers provide.

  Even though I would be willing to volunteer my services to get the job done, by law I am prohibited from doing so.

  Never did I imagine in my 36 years of public service that I would be leaving the following message on my work phone: "I am currently our of the office due to the government furlough. Due to the laws regulations that govern this furlough, I will not be checking emails or voice mail until I return. If this is an urgent requirement, please contact the Command Duty Officer."

  I dread having to record this message, especially when I know the impact of furlough will result in mission delays and back-logged aircraft maintenance, which will result in greater costs to the Department of Defense and taxpayers.

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