Press Releases

Says furloughed workers could lose security clearances

Says furloughed workers could lose security clearances

As workers from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard prepared to rally today to call attention to unpaid furlough days they will be forced to take, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree took to the floor of the U.S. House this morning to give her support to the workers and criticize Congressional inaction that has led to mandatory budget cuts.

"These men and women in Kittery are some of the hardest working, most skilled and dedicated shipyard workers in America. Year in and year out they repair and refit submarines to the highest standards--on time and on budget," Pingree said. "And last year some of them even risked their lives to put out a fire on board the USS Miami and save it from becoming a total loss. Now the federal government is telling them they have to take what could amount to a 20% pay cut."

Pingree also highlighted an issue she heard about from shipyard workers—the potential loss of security clearances for workers who run into financial problems after losing pay due to furloughs. Federal security clearances can be suspended or revoked if the clearance holder is experiencing financial difficulty, and Pingree has talked to top Navy officials about the issue. On the House floor today, Pingree said suspending security clearance "adds insult to injury."

Federal workers at the yard in Kittery and across the country will start getting notices today, informing them they will be forced to take up to 22 unpaid furlough days between April 25 and September 30. The furlough are the results of the so-called "sequester"—mandatory across the board budget cuts that came about after Congress failed to pass a deficit reduction bill.

Pingree, who voted against the bill that created the sequester, had harsh words for Congressional leaders.

"It's outrageous that Congress has not done its job and passed a balanced deficit reduction package. It's outrageous that Congress has resorted to these arbitrary, extreme budget cuts," Pingree said on the House floor. "The public workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and around the country deserve our thanks---not a 20% pay cut."