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Paul Ryan Budget Cuts $368 Billion From Federal Workforce, Threatens Strength Of U.S. Services

March 20, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
JULIE TAGEN
jtagen@narfe.org, 703-838-7782
 

New proposal would result in loss of 100,000 jobs at the U.S. Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Homeland Security

Joseph A. Beaudoin, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), issued the following statement today in response to the release of a budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, chairman of the House Budget Committee. The proposed budget would cost the federal workforce $368 billion.

“The Ryan budget would further shift America’s budget burden onto middle-class federal workers by extending the current two-year pay freeze through 2015, cutting federal worker paychecks to pay more for already sound retirement plans, and shaving one in 10 federal jobs.

“Chairman Ryan’s belief that it is permissible to penalize middle-class federal workers, who protect Americans and keep our nation moving forward, is frightening. Whatever happened to ‘shared sacrifice’? What does he hope to gain by prolonging pay freezes, pinching paychecks, and eliminating employees, including those who inspect the safety of our food and nuclear power plants? It’s worth remembering that losing one in 10 federal workers means losing 100,000 employees at the U.S. Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Homeland Security.

“America’s federal workforce has already sacrificed $75 billion to help get the country’s budget back on track. Enough is enough.”

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NARFE, one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/ retiree organization, NARFE represents the retirement interests of nearly 5 million current and future federal annuitants, spouses, and survivors.