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Politics & Government

Furloughs for Federal Employees Kick In

Labor Department workers have already begun taking unpaid leave.

Since October of 2012, Patch has been reporting on the potential effects of sequestration in the DC area, and in March, we detailed some of the thousands of workers that could be furloughed if lawmakers were unable to reach an accord on spending issues.

April 21, 2013, was identified by the Department of Defense as the first date that the furloughs could begin.

Now that date has arrived and The Washington Post is reporting that some federal employees have already begun to take their unpaid time off.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bruce Anderson, a Labor policy analyst from Takoma Park who is splitting his furlough days across 10 pay periods, said he has had to reassure his 8-year-old son that “things would be OK” and that they “would get through it together as a family and no one was losing their jobs.”

The IRS is closing all public-facing operations on May 24, June 14, July 5 and August 30 to cut costs.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking a similar approach, planning to close offices nationwide on “seven non-consecutive days" starting May 10.

Are you facing furloughs? Tell us how you're taking your time off in comments.

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