Kilmer Statement on Furlough Announcement

Representative Derek Kilmer today released the following statement after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the Pentagon will furlough about 800,000 civilian employees for 11 days due to the across-the-board cuts known as “sequestration.” Employees in Navy shipyards will be exempted from furloughs however employees throughout Naval Base Kitsap including at Bremerton, Bangor, Naval Hospital Bremerton, Manchester Fuel Depot, and NUWC Keyport will be affected.  In addition, these impacts will also be felt for Department of Defense civilian employees at JBLM in Pierce County and NAVMAG Indian Island in Jefferson County.

In response to the Navy saying it could manage the across-the-board cuts without furloughs to shipyard workers, Representative Kilmer previously signed a letter urging the Department of Defense to allow services the flexibility to deal with the cuts as they see fit rather than imposing one policy across the board.

“While I’m pleased to see an exception from furloughs for employees at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, these across-the-board cuts and the resulting furloughs will affect our military readiness and have a negative impact on our local economy.  These problems are entirely avoidable if Congress would get its act together and replace these across-the-board cuts altogether,” said Representative Derek Kilmer. “I believe the way out of our economic mess is getting both parties to work together on a balanced, strategic, long-term budget plan. Congress needs to get this done for the American people. We can’t give up the fight.”

Representative Kilmer recently sponsored two pieces of legislation – his first bills – in an effort to reduce the financial hardship these civilian employees will face, as well as mitigate the negative impact their financial hardship will have on the economy.  

From day one, Representative Kilmer has called on Congress to stop the across-the-board cuts and replace them with a balanced, long-term solution to our economic problems.  In addition to speaking about this on the House floor, Representative Kilmer has also published several op-eds on the issue and held roundtable meetings with those who could be affected by the cuts.  The morning the cuts took effect, Representative Kilmer stood outside the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard gate to speak with shipyard workers.