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The House majority leader said Wednesday that the Defense Department does not need to furlough federal employees in the midst of a budget showdown between Congress and the White House.

Steny Hoyer, D-Md., announced a host of military budgeting options that would delay the need for furloughs at Defense until at least late March, more than five weeks longer than the Pentagon claims is possible.

"Defense employees work hard every day to keep America safe and provide critical support to our soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world," Hoyer said. "President Bush should stop using these dedicated and valued workers as political pawns in an attempt to get Congress to write a blank check for Iraq."

Hoyer was joined at a news conference by Reps. Tom Davis, R-Va.; Jim Moran, D-Va.; John Sarbanes, D-Md.; and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.

The Pentagon has said money for Army operations will run out in mid-February and for the Marine Corps in March, even after a transfer of $4.1 billion from other accounts to sustain Army operations. On Nov. 15, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, which would result in furloughs of 100,000 civilians and another 100,000 contract personnel.

The department has further noted that, by law, federal employees must be notified of furloughs 60 days in advance -- meaning these notices would be delivered just before the holidays.

But lawmakers urged the department to delay issuing the furloughs until after the holidays and to exhaust every appropriate budgetary tool. They pointed to a report released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service that found that Defense could extend operations through late March, either by transferring money from cash balances to working capital funds or by slowing the pace at which the Army and Marine Corps are obligating funds.

Implementing such budget alternatives could result in an excess of $7.3 billion, delaying the need for furloughs from Feb. 23, 2008, to March 29, 2008, CRS estimated.

CRS further noted that the department could invoke the Civil War-era Feed and Forage Act, which would extend operations for an additional month. In the past 40 years, the law has been used to pay for unplanned contingencies and sustain military operations when supplemental appropriations have been delayed.

But CRS recommended that Congress avoid invoking the law, noting that doing so could create significant war power issues and introduce problems in negotiating contracts. "For Congress to recommend use of the Feed and Forage Act appears particularly ironic," the report said. "It is, in a sense, to write the script for the executive branch to evade legislative restrictions on the use of funds to carry on the war in Iraq."

Still, the lawmakers said they are fully committed to finding other alternatives that would avoid the need for furloughs. Moran said he has discussed with Hoyer and House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., the possibility of drafting legislation that would preclude furloughing.

"The budgeting tools to avoid a [furlough] are clear," Moran said. "Congress stands ready to work with the administration to prevent an unnecessary furlough."

Meanwhile, Davis and Sarbanes expressed particular concern with the long-term effects of implementing the furloughs, noting that they might deter many college graduates from considering careers in public service.

"This sends a terrible message to those in college who might consider government service," Davis said. "Furloughs should be a last resort, not plan A."

COMMENTS

• If you lay off the Depot DoD people,what will that do for our troops. After all it's these people who the warfighter's depend on for thier equipment. R. Thomas Posted December 20, 2007 3:06 PM
• Senator Hoyer's resolution is no resolution. Essentially, he's suggesting the Pentagon delay the supposedly inevitable. On the one hand Congress cannot get its act together on a budget and yet Federal Justices will be receiving a 31% pay increase and holding the workforce to a minimal raise (which, is one of the factors for not attracting quality personnel, evidently not a consideration at this point….yet, the exodus of justices is)..the incongruity of it all. I suggest Congress not recess until the budget situation is resolved and if that cannot be accomplished….it’s time to shed the old and welcome the new at election time. The CRA with each passing FY has been extended past the point of no return, adversely affecting operations. By the time this Congress formulates a budget submission of the FY09 budget by agencies will be forthcoming. In order to continue operations within Government and forego furloughing employees, the budgetary year should be changed to calendar year rather than fiscal year; thereby, precluding the workforce incurring the same problem in the future, although with the mindset of Congress that’s doubtful. An improvement for the betterment of the country would be term limits on Congressional appointments. CAE Posted December 18, 2007 10:21 AM
• All this talk of furloughs is just playing politics with DoD employees and fear mongering. The majority of U.S. citizens want this war over with and the Administration knows it. The Congressional majority needs to stand fast and force the issue. Mr. Bush's vetoes will be seen for what they really are; his inability to face the truth with respect to "his" war. Furloughs forced on hard worker federal employees will eventually backfire on Mr. Bush and his political party. Robert B. Posted December 18, 2007 10:00 AM