Holder takes $10,750 sequester pay cut in gesture to Justice Department workers

Attorney General Eric Holder is joining other top Obama administration officials in voluntarily taking a pay cut to show solidarity with federal workers affected by sequestration.

{mosads}On Wednesday, the White House said President Obama would return 5 percent of his salary for the 10 months sequestration is in effect to the U.S. Treasury. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is forfeiting the equivalent of 14 days’ worth of pay, as is Holder.

“The Attorney General intends to take a pay cut equivalent to the maximum amount any Justice Department employee has to take as a result of the sequestration, which is up to 14 days this fiscal year, so that those funds can go back into the Treasury,” the Justice Department said in a statement to TIME magazine.

Hagel and Holder both earn $199,700 per year as Cabinet secretaries; their 14 furlough days will result in them returning $10,750 to the Treasury. President Obama, who makes $400,000 per year, is returning just under $17,000.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the president wanted to “share in the sacrifice” being shouldered by federal workers.

“The salary for the President, as with Members of Congress, is set by law and cannot be changed. However, the President has decided that to share in the sacrifice being made by public servants across the federal government that are affected by the sequester, he will contribute a portion of his salary back to the Treasury,” Carney said.

The Justice Department said last month that they are delaying decisions about possible furloughs until mid-April, while the agency determines how to assess the continuing resolution passed last month. In February, the DOJ sent employees a notice warning they could be furloughed up to 14 days.

“I fully understand you may be anxious about the possibility of furloughs in your component,” Holder said in a memo to employees. “The Department needs more time to determine if we can avoid furloughs this fiscal year.”