Obama cuts own salary, reflects suffering U.S. gov't workers
Five percent may not seem like much, but it's a start.
According to the White House, U.S. president Barack Obama has agreed to return five percent of his salary "in a show of solidarity" with governmental staff who are smarting under the latest round of spending cuts.
Furloughs -- otherwise known as unpaid leave -- is potentially on the cards for hundreds of thousands of workers if Congress cannot reach a consensus to undo a number of cuts that began hitting federal programs last month.
Proposed cuts reach $85 billion. The 5 percent cut of President Obama's annual $400,000 salary equates to $20,000. This gesture comes after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pledged to take 14 days' pay out of his paycheck, which is equal to what employees in the department are being forced to take.
See also: Obama's $100 million brain mapping project
Obama spokesman Jay Carney said:
"The salary for the president, as with members of Congress, is set by law and cannot be changed. However, the president has decided that to share in the sacrifice being made by public servants across the federal government that are affected by the sequester, he will contribute a portion of his salary back to the Treasury."
On Monday, the White House admitted that 480 workers have been given notice that they may have to take days off without pay. It is also possible for additional governmental staff unless a deal is reached in Congress.
Via: Huffington Post
Image credit: Steve Jurvetson
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This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com