DoD has told Congress that if it has to operate next fiscal year at post-sequestration levels, as is being considered in the budget process, it "hopes to avoid a second year of furloughs of civilian personnel, but will have to consider involuntary reductions in force to reduce civilian personnel costs." It also said it "would seek management efficiencies and controls on compensation growth." Separately, DoD has announced a 20 percent cut in certain headquarters positions over 2015-2019, which will affect senior civilians along with military officers.Numerous other agencies have warned of increasingly severe effects on employees next year if funding remains at the lower levels, but the warning from DoD carries particular heft because of its size and prominent role in the government. Agencies argue that some cost-cutting steps they used to lessen the effect this fiscal year were one-time changes that could not be repeated or involve needed spending that cannot be deferred indefinitely.
