Defence Department civilian workers could face furloughs

(WTNY) -- Almost 800-thousand civilian employees in the Defense Department may have to start taking one day a week of unpaid leave. 

The furloughs are part of what Pentagon officials laid out for Congress Wednesday in case huge automatic spending cuts take effect on March 1.  About 85-billion dollars in across-the-board cuts will kick in unless Congress approves another deficit reduction plan. 

The furloughs would begin in late April.