On August 6, SECDEF Hagel announced a reduction in the number of required furlough days from 11 days (88 hours) to six days (48 hours). For most employees, the furlough ended August 17 - if not completed by then, employees must conclude their furlough requirements by September 27, 2013.
On February 20, DoD notified Congress of a potential furlough of civilian employees in the event of sequestration. Sequestration (the Budget Control Act of 2011) began March 1 and requires extraordinary across-the-board budget reductions — approximately $4-5 billion. Because sequestration was triggered in March — nearly halfway through the fiscal year — the Department must absorb the additional cuts within a few months. The Department of the Navy (DON) has taken and will continue to take steps to address current and project budget reductions. Administrative furloughs are expected to be limited to no more than 88 hours (about 11 days) and may begin in July and extend through September 30.
With an administrative furlough, virtually all employees are subject to furlough unless they are covered by an approved exceptions furlough - about 78% of the employees will be impacted to include senior executives and employees in working capital fund organizations. In a furlough situation, employees are placed in a temporary nonduty, nonpay status because of lack of work or funds or other nondisciplinary reasons. Unlike past emergency or shutdown furloughs, an administrative furlough is a planned event designed to absorb reductions necessitated by downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work or any other budget situation other than a lapse in appropriations. Furloughs that would result from sequestration would generally be considered administrative furloughs. All approved exceptions have been documented and provided to BSO Commanders.
Generally, DoD and DON have excepted the following from the administrative furlough:
- Civilians deployed in combat zone
- Civilians responsible for safety of life or property – only to extent needed to prevent unacceptable risk or catastrophic gaps (mostly police, firefighters)
- Civilians funded 100% with non-appropriated funds
- Employees exempt by law (Presidential appointees not eligible for leave)
- Civilian mariners at sea
- Civilians providing 24-hour inpatient and emergency care
- Child care workers required to meet regulatory requirements
- Foreign nationals
- Civilians funded with National Intelligence Program (NIP) funds
- Shipyard workers
Additional Administrative Furlough Information