Government furloughs could cost Air Force base employees - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

WASHINGTON - Looming, across-the-board budget cuts could cost 409 employees at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, Ohio.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a message Wednesday to the Department of Defense's workforce warning of a possible hour-cut that could come into effect within a month and last until September 30.

Over 800,000 people across the nation would be affected by the unpaid furloughs, which calls for the Defense department's civilian employees to work one less day a week.

"It sounds like it would be working four day work weeks for 22 weeks, a 20 percent pay cut basically," said Maj. Brent Davis, chief of public affairs at the Air Reserve Station.

Maj. Davis says an 18 percent reduction to regular flying schedules could also be on the table, which would cut back on fuel spending, but in turn, reduce the spent on missions.

"There's certainly frustration and kind of wondering, how this is going to play out, so we're hoping for the best," he said.

In the message, Panetta said an agreement between Congress and the administration on a "balanced defecit reduction plan" could allow them to avoid these cuts.

The sequestration by Congress that's causing the Defense department to make budget cuts is not in effect yet, but departments are already reducing spending.

Panetta assured the workforce a 30-day warning would be issued before any furlough began.