WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, praised announcements by Air Force leaders this week that the department will not furlough civilian employees in the coming fiscal year. More than 1,400 civilian military personnel in Delaware — including more than 1,000 at Dover Air Force Base — were among 650,000 workers at installations around the world who were furloughed by the Air Force for six days this summer because of the sequester’s across-the-board federal spending cuts. The 2014 decision was revealed by Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh in separate sessions of the annual Air Force Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland this week.
“The Air Force’s decision to furlough civilian employees this summer was regrettable not only for the workers and families forced to endure a pay cut, but for the furloughs’ impact on our national security,” Senator Coons said. “I’m glad that the Air Force has decided to find cost savings elsewhere in the coming fiscal year and won’t furlough civilians next summer. I’ve spoken with dozens of Delawareans in the National Guard and at Dover Air Force Base who were painfully disappointed that they were paying the price for Congress’ inability to come together to agree on a budget. Although the Senate passed a budget capable of replacing the sequester earlier this year, the House is still refusing to even consider it. I’m glad Delaware’s military personnel won’t personally pay the price for that inaction next year, but remain committed to replacing the reckless sequester with a responsible budget better for all Americans.”
Senator Coons and Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) participated in a town hall meeting with several hundred civilian employees at Dover Air Force Base in August. According to base leadership, 1,023 workers associated with the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings, Mortuary Affairs Operations, and the Medical Examiner were subjected by the Air Force to six-day furloughs this summer. More on that meeting can be found here: http://1.usa.gov/17JJd7W