National President Dougan Issues Statement on Proposed Pay Freeze Extension, Workforce Reduction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cory Bythrow, Communications Director

Phone: (202) 216-4458

Washington, D.C. – In response to recent supports suggesting Congressional Republicans intend to pursue a one-year extension of the federal pay freeze in addition to a ten percent workforce reduction, NFFE National President William R. Dougan issued the following statement:

“The Republicans’ attempt to extend the federal pay freeze and cut 200,000 federal jobs is absolutely unacceptable. Rather than finance the payroll tax cut through new revenues on those who can most afford it Congressional Republicans have suggested we finance it on the backs of middle class federal workers. It is despicable that our elected representatives in Washington would propose taking thousands from the pockets of VA nurses, border patrol agents, and food safety inspectors simply to protect a small group of millionaires and billionaires.”

“Congress shouldn’t be talking about cutting hundreds of thousands of middle class federal jobs while our economy is on the brink – they should be fighting to save every last one. Where are their priorities? Federal workers have already sacrificed with a two-year pay freeze and trillions in cuts to agency budgets – cuts that could result in forced retirements and reductions in force. Enough is enough. NFFE and our brothers and sisters in labor will fight hard to ensure that federal employees don’t pay the price for Congressional Republicans’ failure to defend the middle class.”