Although the Defense Department has warned of the potential for RIFs in the upcoming fiscal year if its budget remains at post-sequestration levels, a senior Navy official followed that up by indicating reluctance lay off civilian employees. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert said at a news briefing that "It’s very difficult in a year of execution and suddenly to say, all right, we’re going to reduce manpower. Well, that’s payroll, so you have to get people off the payroll. And under the current rules and regulations, you have to pay them to depart, especially if it’s non-voluntary. You can put in enticers to retire or whatever, or you can involuntary separate them. That payment precludes much savings and we need the people in the near term."
