Niagara prepares for possible civilian furloughs Published March 13, 2013 By Master Sgt. Kevin Nichols 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- More than 300 members of the 914th Airlift Wing attended a town hall meeting March 14 to discuss potential actions if sequestration goes into effect next month. Wing leadership discussed the possibilitiy of furloughs as well as other adjustments the wing would make if sequestration actions are implemented April 26. "We are doing everything in our power to avoid or minimize the effects of this administrative furlough on our employees, as it breaks faith with those who have proven themselves both effective and efficient to our mission and have made our Air Force better," said Col. Allan Swartzmiller, 914th AW commander. If Congress does not act on sequestration, most DOD civilian employees will be furloughed without pay for 22 non-consecutive days - one day per week starting in late April through the end of the fiscal year. That amounts to a 20 percent loss of pay and associated financial hardships for approximately 280 base employees. "Should these furloughs take effect in late April, the plan is for the 914th Airlift Wing to be closed for business on Mondays through the fiscal year," said Swartzmiller. "However, base security and emergency services will still be maintained." Sequestration, signed into law as part of the 2011 Budget Control Act, is a package of mandated cuts to the federal budget, totaling some $1.2 trillion over 10 years of which some $85 billion takes effect in fiscal 2013.