WPAFB reacts to impending defense cuts

WPAFB, Ohio (WDTN) - Officials at Wright Patterson Air Force Base are reacting to defense budget cuts which could become a reality on March 1.

The base already has a hiring freeze in place for non-critical civilian workers, but could now face even deeper cuts.

More than 13,000 civilians work at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  The potential massive cuts could affect every single one of them, as well as you.

WPAT is already preparing for the potential sequestration in March with guidance from the Department of Defense.

Colonel Cassie Barlow tells us those plans include reducing 15-percent of the budget across the entire installation.  In addition, the base has started initial planning for a potential furlough.  60-percent of the workforce here are civilians.

Colonel Barlow calls the furloughs a last resort and says that there will be some exceptions around mission-critical civilian employees.

They would be for 22 days and would start in early April.  She says while the Department of Defense hasn't given specific numbers yet on how many employees would be effected.  She says they will be given 30 days notice.

Colonel Barlow also says the base has never had to deal with anything like this and the potential cuts are already impacting everyone here in the Miami Valley.

"Everybody is on edge, I would say.  It's tough times, but it's been that way, unfortunately, since the beginning of the year because we've been under a continuing resolution.  We knew that there were budget cuts on the way.  So, it's a tough environment right now for everybody and I think it's on base and off base as well," said Col. Cassie Barlow, WPAFB.

Colonel Barlow says she doesn't know what effect  the cuts will have on community events like the Dayton Air Show and Tattoo Music Festival, but she says everyone here at Wright Patterson Air Force Base will be relying on the community to get through this tough time.