Hagel Plans to Forfeit Part of Salary in Keeping With Furloughs

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has agreed to forfeit part of his salary to show solidarity with civilian workers who will be forced to take unpaid leave, Pentagon spokesman George Little said today.

The Defense Department plans to put most of its 800,000 civilian workers on unpaid leave for as long as 14 days this fiscal year because of automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

Hagel will give up as much as 14 days of his pay as a show of support even though he isn’t subject to the furloughs, Little told reporters at the Pentagon.

The furloughs are likely to begin in mid-June, Little said yesterday.