Federal civilian employees at Naval Support Facility Indian Head are among hundreds of thousands of workers in the Department of Defense who are being forced to take leave without pay one day per week starting July 8.
Over 1,870 civilian employees – about 97 percent of the total government civilian workforce at the Indian Head naval base – are subject to the furlough directed by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in May. The furlough is being implemented by federal agencies as one method to deal with billions of dollars in budget cuts mandated through sequestration legislation that went into effect in March.
Hagel directed furloughs of up to 11 days for most of the 800,000 Department of Defense employees, at the rate of one furlough day per week. The furlough will result in a 20-percent reduction in weekly pay for affected employees through the remainder of the current fiscal year, which ends in September.
Most civilians will be furloughed with a few exceptions, to include those deployed in a combat zone, and those who protect safety of life or property such as firefighters and police officers.
The furlough will not affect the operational status of Naval Support Facility Indian Head. The base will remain open for business for the normal Monday through Friday work week. However, cost-cutting
measures have forced some reduction in base-wide support services.
For Navy’s shore installations managed through Commander Navy Installation Command, the budget draw-down has thus far equated to a 10-percent reduction in funding for base operating support services. All Navy installation commands in Naval District Washington (NDW) are affected, to include Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP), which is responsible for providing a wide range of base support services for Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head. These services include police and fire protection, safety programs, air operations, and quality of life programs and facilities.
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