Niagara prepares for civilian furloughs Published May 15, 2013 By Master Sgt. Kevin Nichols 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Approximately 360 employees of the 914th Airlift Wing are scheduled to be furloughed one day a week for 11 weeks starting July 8. The furloughs are a result of sequester related budget cuts. At least 600,000 of the estimated 750,000 DOD civil service employees will be affected. Defense officials have worked hard to get the original 22-day furloughs down, first to 14-days, and then to 11 days. Furlough notices are expected to be sent to base employees in the late May early June time frame. To help better plan and continue its mission, the 914 AW, host unit of NFARS will be closed for business on Mondays beginning July 8. Base security and emergency services will still be maintained. Sequestration, signed into law as part of the 2011 Budget Control Act, is a package of mandated cuts to the federal budget, totaling some $1.2 trillion over 10 years of which some $85 billion takes effect in fiscal 2013.