Despite budget cuts requiring most federal agencies to furlough workers, the State Department says it will not have to force any of its employees to take unpaid leave.
State's top management official said Friday that the budget sequester cut for the department would be only $400 million, less than half of $850 million that was originally estimated.
Because of that and other cost-saving measures already implemented, Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state for management, said department employees both in the United States and abroad would be spared furloughs at least until the end of the current budget year.
The department has cut back on spending by reducing travel and conference expenses, filling only one of every two new job vacancies and adjusting building temperatures, he said.
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