Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has formally notified Congress of the Pentagon’s plans to furlough its civilian employees in the event of sequestration cuts, Reuters reports.
Most of the Defense Department‘s 800,000 civilian workers would go on unpaid leave for one day per week over 22 weeks between April and Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year, according to the report.
The notice to Congress is required 45 days in advance of any furloughs, David Alexander reports.
Citing a defense official, Alexander reports the military service branches received formal notification Wednesday and have until early March to request exceptions regarding furloughs.
According to Bloomberg, Panetta told lawmakers civilian workers will have 30-days’ notice prior to being placed on unpaid leave.
He also said the Pentagon has no legal authority to exempt civilian personnel from reductions, Bloomberg reports.
