By Joe Davidson
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The government shutdown that was averted two years ago and smaller crises differed in critical ways from the sweeping federal budget cuts that could strike Friday. One important difference is the impact the new cuts, known as sequestration, could have on federal employees deemed essential.
This time they won’t be. Or, to put it more accurately, essential or not, they would be subject to a furlough just like everyone else.
This means that law enforcement officers, including FBI agents, Bureau of Prisons correctional officers, U.S. Marshals Service deputies, Secret Service agents and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers would be furloughed. Transportation security officers and other essential personnel also will be required to take unpaid leave days if members of Congress cannot agree on a way to avoid the sequester.
Full Story: Federal law enforcement officers not exempt from budget-cut furloughs