Posted on 12/11/2007 1:24:44 PM PST by STARWISE
The Defense Department has officially notified Congress that the department will begin the furlough process for civilian employees of the Army, the Marine Corps and the combatant commands.
Congressional leaders have released a letter from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England dated Dec. 7. In it, England gave legislators the required 45-day notice before beginning furloughs.
The furloughs will become necessary if Congress does not pass a global war on terror spending bill. “Without GWOT funding, only operations and maintenance funds in the base budget are available to cover war-related costs,” England said in the letter. “O&M funds also cover salary costs for a large number of Army and Marine Corps civilian employees.”
England reminded legislators of a letter he sent Nov. 8 to explain what would happen without supplemental war funding. “I emphasized that without this critical funding, the department would have no choice but to deplete key appropriations accounts in order to sustain essential military operations around the world,” he wrote in his Dec. 7 letter.
The House passed a $50 billion bill last month with funds to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it included legislation that directs the president to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by December 2008. The measure failed in the Senate. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill that includes a troop-withdrawal timetable.
England’s letter begins a process that could affect 100,000 civilian employees. “Specific furlough notices will be issued in mid-January,” England said in his letter. “The department will also begin notifying appropriate labor organizations.”
If the legislation does not pass, the Army will be the first service affected, in mid-February, and the Marine Corps about a month later. The services will be forced to divert operations and maintenance funds to continuing combat operations. Civilian employees in the United States and overseas would be affected.
“The furlough will negatively affect our ability to execute base operations and training activities,” England wrote. “More importantly, it will affect the critical support our civilian employees provide to our warfighters -- support which is key to our current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Congress has passed a $460 billion Defense Appropriations Act for 2008, but this is not enough to fund ongoing operations.
England told the lawmakers the Defense Department has no choice but to begin the furlough process. “While these actions will be detrimental to the nation, there are no other viable alternatives without additional congressional funding,” he wrote.
I was not given the option of leave, I had to work! Now I can’t get a day off or take any sick time since I am retired!
“Essential personel had to work and got nothing extra.”
That’s why I didn’t notice it; I still had to work.
amen....I worked through the last shutdown - without complaining - knowing in my head I was going to be paid but not so sure in my heart....everyone blamed the R’s - but of course the media was piling on....let’s see if they blame the rats this time....not! And yeah, I’m retired now so don’t give a rat’s behind....
Thank you to those of you who continued your efforts in the defense of our country under hardship...sounds like it was the responsible thing to do.
My DIL did that - AZ to OK - there needs to be an opening for your skill/specialty in the new state.
Are there still bases in CA that haven’t closed???
(sarcasm off now, I think)
If certain nations like Iran, NK, China, and others were to accomplish the feat of diverting $50 billion from our military, it would be considered an act of war. It certainly could be a financial goal during any military conflict with an enemy nation. So, what’s the difference here, other than it being the “enemy within”.
Yes.
You might not even have to move - if your MOS is not in one state, you may have to find a unit within a reasonable distance, and that could mean across state lines. An Inter-state Transfer is all that's needed. Contact the Guard for details.
That’s exactly right. I lived in NY, and my guard unit was in Mass.
*blushing* I was a recruiter, once...
That explains it then..LOL!! JUST KIDDING SARGE!!!..
I’m already dropping for 50 push ups..LOL!!
Plan of action:
1) lay off all civilians in lib dem districts only
2) suspend activity of bases in lib dem districts only. temporarily relocate said activities and personnel to more facilities in more friendly districts.
3) suspend all contracts for businesses located in lib dem districts only.
4) sit back and enjoy the show.
Gee.
Where are the requisite comments about gov’t employees being lazy, worhtless, sandcrabs who do nothing, accomplish nothing and would be noticed if they were not there?
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