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News Tip: Defense Furloughs Send 'Horrible Message' to Public Service Workers

Defense Department may furlough some 800,000 defense civilians for one day per week 

The Defense Department has announced it will furlough some 800,000 defense civilians for one day per week if automatic budget cuts take effect next month. 

David Schanzer Associate professor of the practice, Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy; director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.schanzer@duke.eduhttp://fds.duke.edu/db/Sanford/schanzer Schanzer is an expert in counterterrorism and homeland security, among other issues. Prior to his academic appointments, he was the Democratic staff director for the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security from 2003-05.Quote: "The short-term impacts of the furlough are being documented and will be damaging. But I am also concerned about the long-term impacts on our present and future workforce. "We are sending a horrible message to professionals in public service -- FBI agents, scientists in government laboratories, air traffic controllers, intelligence analysts -- that their work is expendable and not valued. Young people will also be watching carefully and many will conclude that public service is not a career worth considering.  "Ultimately, we will get the government that we deserve."