Gov cannot have furloughs year after year. Those DoD workers be ready for an offer to retire in coming fall/winter, because a reduction in force is coming in 2014 if not enough people take early retirement. Since Congress is evenly divided, and a looming fiscal crisis threaten our nation via huge debt and dollar printing, action has to be taken. If Congress is unwilling to take cuts and allow others no cuts, then across the board cuts is the next best thing.
All thinking Fed workers should have saw this coming and adjust their personal finances accordingly. The age of austerity is upon the gov. If they think it is tough now, they haven’t seen anything yet.
The critical number is 22 days, but I don’t know if that is within a 12 month period, calendar year, or fiscal year. More than 22 and a RIF is mandatory.