Feds warn PA military sites to be "heavily affected" by sequester

(Philadelphia) -- The federal Defense Department says military sites in Pennsylvania are set to be heavily affected by automatic federal spending cuts, known as the "sequester."  

A letter to Governor Corbett says the army would lose $7 million in base operations funding across the state, including cuts at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Cumberland County and Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Lebanon County.

The letter says depot operations at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Franklin County and Tobyhanna Army Depot in Tobyhanna, Monroe County could be cut by up to $751 million.

The state's 26,000 civilian defense workers could have 22 days of unpaid furloughs, amounting to a 20 percent pay cut.

Government-wide budget reductions totaling $85 billion are now taking effect.

Defense officials sent letters to 10 states that would be most severely impacted by military cuts. The Associated Press obtained copies.
A Corbett administration spokesman said he had not seen the letter.