Pentagon awash in pink slips, preparing 800,000 civilian furloughs

Washington Times ^ | 20 Feb 13 | Kristina Wong

[SkyPilot]

The Defense Department on Wednesday officially notified Congress that it plans to begin furloughing its 800,000 civilian employees across the country if automatic spending cuts begin March 1, estimating the states would lose a total of $4.86 billion in workers’ wages this year.

According to Pentagon estimates, among the hardest-hit states would be Virginia, which would have about 88,000 affected workers and salary losses of $660.9 million; California, with 62,600 workers and $419.7 million in lost wages; and Maryland, with 45,700 workers and $359.3 million in lost earnings.

“This is not a Beltway phenomenon,” Jessica L. Wright, the acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told reporters at the Pentagon. “More than 80 percent of our civilians work outside of the D.C. metro area. They live and work in every state of the union.”

Under the furlough plan, civilian workers would be forced to take one day of unpaid leave each week for 22 weeks from late April through September, costing them about 20 percent of their pay during that time, Pentagon officials said.

In a written message, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told civilian workers that they “will be provided at least 30 days’ notice prior to executing a furlough and your benefits will be protected to the maximum extent possible.”

He added that the Pentagon “also will work to ensure that furloughs are executed in a consistent and appropriate manner.”

Mr. Panetta noted that the department has been funded by a continuing resolution that has limited spending to 2012 levels and said the effects of sequestration may be felt more intensely because of it.

[RFEngineer]

God has nothing to do with our financial distress. Our politicians have been rendering thus unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s great grandchildren for the past 30 years.

You think you have a complaint NOW? Make no cuts and see the Federal Workforce and federal pensions, and uniformed military/pensions, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SS, and foodstamps and everything else the government spends reduced to levels that can be supported on a “pay as you go” basis.

The effects of these cuts are wildly exaggerated - and you, if you know anything about government and military bureaucracy, are already aware of this.

The human stories that come to this thread, the indignance and the tales of woe are meaningless, unfortunately. The more important stories from small business owners and employers forced to pay for all of this spending (that which we choose not to steal from our children and grandchildren) are the real tragedies.

Our “conservatives” friends that are dependent on federal largesse - while assuming the mantle of Patriotism and Selflessness - that are complaining on this thread with deluded self-importance have a rude awakening. We can’t afford this bureaucratic mediocrity that they are part of.

If you want to go Biblical, instead of Psalm 29, look to what the Commandments say about stealing.

Sure, it doesn’t specifically call monetizing future government revenue through bond offerings “stealing” but that’s exactly what it is.

What are a few million government workers going to do when we can’t borrow money? What are 50 million food stamp recipients going to do? What are medicare recipients going to do?

These cuts HAVE to happen if we have a chance - and much much more behind those.

[SkyPilot]

Asking them to make a real 2% cut does not seem extreme

I am getting tired of debating people who have no idea of what the facts are. I always knew that a small slice of the American public were lazy and stupid. I didn't think it applied to Conservative Republicans.

It is not a "2%" cut.

It is a 13.5% across the board cut to the military, and because of the jack assery of our vaunted President and Republican friends, it will have to be initiated in the latter 6 months of this fiscal year, and then there are 9 more wonderful years following this catastrophe to go.

Just this year:

http://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/2013/02/sequester-need-to-know

Moreover, military pay and most procurement dollars are not touchable, meaning Operations and Maintenance (the life blood of the military) is going to be absolutely gutted.

Do you read the news?

Military warns cuts would create ‘hollow force’ akin to 1970s

Our military leaders and heroes have been BEGGING Congress and the American people to listen to the facts of this unfolding tragedy, and all I see are deaf ears and ignorant expressions.

We have clueless, obese GOP Congressmen like this guy blaming the military for this disaster.

House GOP blames DOD on sequester

Read this and educate yourself:

Top Pentagon Brass Lay Out Details of Sequestration Nightmare

Do you understand charts?

It is simply incredible to me how so-called "Conservatives" on this forum are reacting (or not reacting) the to the facts.

When war or a national emergency comes again (and it will), there will be a lot of blame to go around. And people like you deserve your place in the front of the line.

[SkyPilot]

God has nothing to do with our financial distress.

God is relevant in all things, including our nation's current predicament. Your pitiful lack of faith or acknowledgment of Him is your misfortune, not His.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:17

[redgolum]

Thank you for the reply, and I will type this quickly.

The main issue is that there is no way to pay for everything without massive tax increases or cuts. The GOP is trying (to their credit) to hold to the “no new taxes” pledge, but that means a lot of pain.

I seem to remember that you are a DOD contractor. If so, I imagine your hours will get cut. That is unfortunate, but in the private sector it is very common. Many of us haven’t had a raise in six years, many more have had out right salary cuts. Heck, a great many have had to find other jobs because of layoffs. If the government workers expect sympathy from those who are not... Lets just say that isn’t wise.

Still, it does highlight a very dangerous thing for our country. The fact that furloughing some government workers is taken as a net drag on the economy means that we have a great deal of said workers. Looking at our deficits, we haven’t been paying them with “real” money, any more that we do the entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. That we are at the stage of the game where any cuts are paraded around as “The end of the WORLD!”, means that the shell game is nearing the end.

What bothers me on this board is that there are a great many fiscal conservatives, until it is their turn. I have seen people stating that we should sell Yellowstone to the Chinese in order to pay for “their” social security.

There is no money. Taxes will have to go up by at least 50% across the board, and massive cuts made to many programs, to keep the military and entitlements going. By the looks of it, the GOP and the rest of the elite, have chosen to end the military and keep social security. Sad thing is they didn’t buy themselves much time.

[SkyPilot]

Thank you for a sane and logical reply. That seems to be a vanishing quantity here on Free Republic as of late.

While I am an Aerospace Engineer and former Air Force pilot, I am not a DoD contractor. I got out of that business (thank God). But I still care deeply about the US military, which is being systematically destroyed all around us - and no one seems to care - much less the "Conservatives" on this forum.

in the private sector it is very common. Many of us haven’t had a raise in six years, many more have had out right salary cuts.

I am right there with you. It does not justify what is being done to the United States military. Obama and Gate/Panetta raped the US military to the tune of $487 Billion starting 2 years ago. Those were real, actual cuts. Thousands upon thousands of jobs were lost. The military heathcare system has beeen under assault for years now under Obama.

The American public should be ashamed of itself.

The Americans who sacrificed the most since 9-11 have been pushed forward into the abyss the most - and the non-reaction of Mr. and Mrs. American Idol has been extraordinary in that they just do not care.

What we are witnessing is a wholesale betrayal. I used to respect people like Paul Ryan, but it turns out that he is just another lackey who postures about how much he thinks he knows, but never paid the price.

There is no money. Even if we ZEROED out Defense spending (which is Constitutional by the way, Entitlements are not), this is how things look:

We will all pay a price for this. Mark my words.

I think that God is about to judge the baby boomer generation for their greed, avarice, and lack of faith. It is not going to be pretty.

[Wanderer99]

Our best and brightest will lose their jobs while the worst of the worst get a free ride. Yea that makes sense...

Nothing short of a divine miracle can save this country...or civilization in general.

[SkyPilot]

Our best and brightest will lose their jobs while the worst of the worst get a free ride. Yea that makes sense...

I anticiate the same.

The most noble, the hardest working Americans will be punished.

The lazy, the most sinful will be rewarded.

[Texan5]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you-I know far too many people in your situation...

I’m fresh out of sympathy for those whining over the loss of 8 hours per week-myself, and most everyone I know have been serving arroz con frijoles and tortillas at dinner for many months, and now even that has gone up in price...

[maica]

Even Byron York is saying Boehner and the Republicans have lost their minds.

######

And Byron York is a reputable authority because......?

He is a younger version of George Will. Made a career of being a token conservative ‘commentator,’ who values his position in DC power circles, more than any actual conservative principles.

[maica]

a lot are vets like myself starting a second career, hard working, conservatives.

Just curious: Do you get a pension for your years of serving in the military?

How many retired military personnel are in a position to pay cash for two present-day university students?

Losing 22 days pay between April and October is not the end of the world! What Obama is doing to our country is affecting many people much worse than you.

Will there be jobs available for your children when they finish their school years?

I agree the sequester is a stinking way for the two parties to fight the fiscal war, but for the Republicans to cave again will only hurt our country worse.

[maica]

What bothers me on this board is that there are a great many fiscal conservatives, until it is their turn.

#####

Ditto, sadly!

[SkyPilot]

What bothers me on this board is that there are a great many fiscal conservatives, until it is their turn.

Let us face the facts here.

Many so-called "Conservatives" here on Free Republic and across the United States are perfectly happy to inflict pain to the military, as long as it protects their Direct Deposit check.

[Badabing Badablonde]

I’m with CMS, and we got our blah-blah letter from Sec Sibellius this week like we get every spring. In short, they are doing all they can to avoid cuts and furloughs because you know, it’s for the people. It’s for the children. We can’t help people if our budget is cut. Blah blah.

Whatever.

I love my job and I am thankful for all I have. If I have to be a victim of the economy like the majority of this nation then I guess it will have to suck. So be it. God is in control and me and my kids will be ok.

Just think its ironic that we are in danger of furloughs at the same time that our oversight and review responsibilities have doubled. Sorry,Bama, I can’t babysit your programs or approve your healthcare plans if I’m sitting at home.

Oh and by the way mr president, I didn’t need that new laptop and monitor you gave me 6 months ago. The old one worked fine. We all got them. About 4000 of us. Budget cuts my ass.

[Owen]

It will be good to see these cuts, however you want to define cut.

It will be good to see MORE cuts, some to DoD, upcoming in the March 27 CR resolution renewal.

Yeah, it would be nice if we saw that the next sequence of cuts all went to Medicaid, Welfare, Dept of Education blah blah BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. We Must Have Cuts. If we have to take some tax increases and military cuts to get them, then too bad.

The number one threat to the US is financial, not military.

In fact, I think I’ll just repeat that and urge everyone swaggering about as a skypilot patriot to do the same thing maybe 50X per day — and I’m a former USAF officer.

The number one threat to the US is financial, not military.

[Wanderer99]

This can’t go on forever. Eventually the nation is going to crash.

The ONLY positive thing is that hardworking and heroic people, like the unemployed troops, will have the strength to survive the coming collapse. They will protect their families while all the crazed welfare animals are raiding and killing each other. A person who loves comfort more than their fellow man CANNOT survive the apocalypse. They cannot survive anything at all! They aren’t at peace even when life is easy let alone when it gets tough!

That’s it. I can’t think of any other positive thought on the matter.

[SkyPilot]

And Byron York is a reputable authority because......?

Would you take the opinion of an official letter to the House Armed Services Committee Chairman by seven 4-star General heroes, several of them who have the Purple Heart, more seriously?

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/pdfs/JCS_28star_letter.pdf

Or are you going to continue with this denial of reality?

Do you know what I think? Freepers and "Conservatives" will throw the US military under the bus in a moments notice. God help us all.

[beandog]

I think that you are probably correct. A lot of bitter Freepers that have made poor life choices.

Of course, if you really believe that none of them are making any money, than they aren’t paying any federal payroll taxes anyway, so what are they complaining about.

[SkyPilot]

I am a former USAF officer as well.

You acknowledge that entitlements are breaking the back of this nation, and a direct consequence of that is that it is murdering the US military.

The financial harm you speak of is just beginning.

Industry: sequestration would cut 2 million American jobs

As a former officer, you should know that the military generates billions of dollars in research, manufacturing, and foreign military sales. The American public has benefited untold trillions from the investment made in the Department of Defense, not to mention our world geopolitical standing, which is directly tied to our world economic standing.

To harm military budget is to only increase the financial pain (to speak nothing of what it does to security and the immorality of harming those who have given the most for this nation).

By year's end, troops will be unable to respond to crises, Pentagon says

I don't know who you are, but if you did serve, you should be ashamed of yourself. Those who are left behind are being decimated by the current "leaders" in Washington DC, of both parties.

I can only surmise you have your own selfish interests to look out for, but you should reexamine your conscious.

[maica]

Do you know what I think? That cuts can and must be made in every federal state and local program that exists today.

Also, that the programs giving money to people for doing nothing will be the last to be cut.

But,

the military IS the point of the spear, and in this instance, it will have to be considered as one more time standing in the vanguard of protecting the future of our country, just by being made the example of how our elected leaders have to make better choices in how to spend the money of taxpayers and lenders.

It was the extraordinary hit being given to the defense budget that Obama considered to be his leverage over his personal enemy: Republicans in Congress. Instead, by standing firm, the Republicans are at least getting the entire issue noticed by the pop culture citizens of our country.

[SkyPilot]

Do you know what I think? That cuts can and must be made in every federal state and local program that exists today.

That is a simpleton's argument.

Of course that is true.

Sequestration is an across-the-board cut that affects the Dept of Defense by 30-40% (no one really know how deep) in it's Operations and Maintenance budget.

What did you do in the Air Force?

Hand out leave slips?

You, of all people, should be out there, defending the noble remnant of Americans who are deployed. They sacrifice every single day for the vast majority of fat Americans who will not even get off the sofa.