House Republicans corrected a $900 million mistake in their budget blueprint this week, alarming federal employees whose benefits might be on the chopping block.
The initial budget directed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to find a way to cut $100 million from its budget over the next 10 years, but the figure should have been $1 billion. Budget committee members corrected the $900 million mistake during a committee hearing Wednesday, reported the Washington Post.
The correction is bad news for federal employees, whose retirement and health plans are under the jurisdiction of the oversight committee. Although the budget doesn’t specify where the cuts have to come from, their benefits will likely be affected. (RELATED: A Republican Budget That Unions Hate)
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley told the Post federal employees have done their part by contributing nearly $160 billion to reducing the deficit since 2010, so they shouldn’t have to suffer through more cuts.
“Once again, federal employees are being targeted disproportionately for budget savings because they chose to serve their country,” Kelley told the Post.
The budget suggests retirement plans might be changed so employees contribute as much to their benefits as the government, which would mean employees would start contributing 6 percent of their salaries. Currently, they contribute between 0.8 percent and 4.4 percent, reported the Post.
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