In a recent interview on PBS news hour, three individuals discussed what can be expected if lawmakers miss the fiscal cliff deadline at the end of the year.
One of the panelists was Jacque Simon, public policy director of the American Federation of Government Employees. She said that federal employees in particular can be hit hard regardless of whether or not a deal is made.
“Federal employees are in the uniquely bad position of facing peril regardless of whether there’s a deal or whether sequestration and the so-called fiscal cliff occurs. In the event that no deal is made and we do have the automatic cuts known as sequestration starting in January, federal employees face job loss and in some situations, certainly in the Department of Defense, but throughout the federal government, people will be furloughed, forced to take unpaid days off, anywhere from 20 to 50 days,” said Simon.
The video below contains the full panel discussion.
