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Defense Department furloughs take effect

Posted at 7:49 AM, Jul 08, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-08 07:52:17-04

More federal spending cuts take effect today, and hundreds of thousands of civilian defense workers will be affected.

Starting Monday, July 8, 650,000 Defense Department employees will be on furlough.

That means civilian workers will be forced to take one unpaid day off each week through September 21.

That will equal a 20 percent reduction of their income.

$85 billion in federal spending cuts kicked-in March 1.

Officials warn the furloughs could slow the delivery of much needed supplies to troops.

The furloughs are expected to save $1.8 billion in defense spending, but that's just a fraction of the $40 billion that defense has to cut.