furloughs

A job-sharing furlough plan could save governments hundreds of millions and raise incomes by drawing down extra CARES Act unemployment funds.

A day without pay, the first of 11 through September, comes next week for more than 650,000 people who hold civilian jobs with the Defense Department.

Defense officials say senior Pentagon leaders are taking a new look at sharply reducing the number of unpaid furlough days department civilians will have to take in the coming months, hoping to cut the current number of 14 by as much as half.

The White House says 480 workers on the president's budget staff have been notified they may have to take days off without pay because of a partisan budget stalemate.

Defense officials say the Pentagon will sharply cut the number of unpaid furlough days civilians will have to take in the next several months from 22 to 14, reducing the financial impact of the budget cuts on as many as 700,000 workers.