Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney announced today that Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has reduced civilian defense employee furloughs from 11 days to six days. Across the country, approximately 640,000 civilian employees are entering their fifth week of furloughs due to budget cuts known as “sequestration,” including employees at the United States Military Academy at West Point and at the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base.
On May 14, Defense Secretary Hagel announced civilian employees would be furloughed 11 days due to the sequester. Rep. Maloney immediately sent a bipartisan letter denouncing the 11-day furlough plan and urging Defense Secretary Hagel to reconsider.
Rep. Maloney previously sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary Hagel after voting to give the Pentagon more flexibility on sequestration cuts. After visiting with employees from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Rep. Maloney spoke on the House Floor to condemn congressional inaction and call for a balanced compromise.
