Military secretaries to donate pay over furloughs

The pay cuts from the service secretaries follow the lead of Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel, who also said this week he would give back the portion of his
salary equal to the number of civilian furlough days. President Obama said
Wednesday that he was donating 5 percent of his salary to show solidarity with
those affected by Air Force cuts.

{mosads}As political appointees, the service secretaries and Hagel
are not eligible for furloughs.

Army Secretary John McHugh, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Air
Force Secretary Michael Donley are all donating the money to the Federal
Employee Education and Assistance Fund, officials with the services said Thursday.

The fund provides scholarships, emergency assistance and
child care subsidies to federal workers, said Army spokesman Maj. Christopher
Kasker.

The Pentagon is planning furloughs for most of its civilian
workforce of nearly 800,000 employees in order to save $2.5 billion in 2013.
The furloughs will be up to 14 days through September and would begin in
mid-June.

They are one of the most visible steps the Pentagon is
taking in order to cut $41 billion from its 2013 budget under sequester.