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Fort Lee prepares for possible impact from sequester

Posted at 8:06 PM, Feb 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-02-25 20:06:13-05

FT. LEE, Va. (WTVR) – Automatic, federal spending cuts could seriously hurt Central Virginia’s largest military base, but civilians, not soldiers would feel it the most.

A spokesman for Ft. Lee tells CBS 6 that civilian employees may have to take 22 furlough days, if the base is forced to make cuts associated with the sequester. If so, 2,624 employees could lose about 20 percent of their pay.

Fort Lee would also implement a civilian hiring freeze, with the exception of firefighters, security guards, and child care workers.

Congress has until Friday, March 1, to come up with a compromise on how to reduce the nation’s debt before $85 billio in spending cuts take effect.