Pentagon starts pink slip process to 46,000

The Pentagon has started laying off the bulk of its 46,000 temporary work force, as automatic Defense Department budget cut-backs beckon in March.

In a BBC report, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said the Pentagon was concerned “we’re running out of time” and quick action is needed to meet the looming changes in their budget. Fiscal cliff concerns, and failing legislative budget agreements, have forced defense cuts of $50 billion.

Each branch of military service has until Feb. 1 to provide plans to reduce short-term spending, Mr. Carter said.

In addition to the temporary worker layoffs, cuts could come to the Pentagon’s civilian sector. Mr. Carter said one option was to cut one work day from each of the 800,000 civilian employees’ weekly work schedule. That could save $5 billion, he said.