R.I. defense workers could lose $34M from spending cuts

FIGURES FROM THE PENTAGON indicate that Rhode Island could face $34.1 in million U.S. Department of Defense civilian payroll cuts if the automatic spending cuts kick in on March 1. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/RICH CLEMENT
FIGURES FROM THE PENTAGON indicate that Rhode Island could face $34.1 in million U.S. Department of Defense civilian payroll cuts if the automatic spending cuts kick in on March 1. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/RICH CLEMENT

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island could face $34.1 million in U.S. Department of Defense civilian payroll cuts if automatic spending cuts kick in on March 1, the Associated Press reported.
According to the news source, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress that if a budget deal isn’t reached, he will have to shorten the workweek for the “vast majority” of the 8,000 civilians working for the Department of Defense.
Panetta reportedly told Congress that the workers would lose one day of work per week for up to 22 weeks. This 20 percent pay cut would probably start in late April, reported the AP.
Pentagon figures indicated that Rhode Island’s civilian payroll was $403 million for the 2012 fiscal year and about $368.9 million for the 2013 fiscal year, said the news source.
According to the report, civilian defense workers in Virginia, California, Maryland, Texas and Georgia stand to lose the most.

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