WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- The Pentagon notified 800-thousand of its civilian employees Wednesday afternoon, about a looming furlough.
There are about 13-thousand civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that could be affected by the 22 day furlough.
But the unpaid leave won't only affect the base, but the local businesses surrounding it as well.
"A month ago I didn't even know what sequestration meant," said Tony Spazianni, Owner of Giovani's Ristorante in downtown Fairborn, which has bee a staple in the community for 60 years.
"It's been up and down heyday's has been when there were 25 to 30-thousand members there, and then cut back at 20-thousand," said Spaziani.
Even though they're serving up their famous pizza, business is down and he blame the threat of cuts.
"No body knows how it's going to affect you," he said.
"Loss of pay would not just be felt by our employees, it would be felt in the business communities where they serve, where their kids go to school, the neighborhoods they live in," said Jessica Wright, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
The worry about the loss of business goes beyond Fairborn, so we took those concerns to those who represent you in Congress.
"These furloughs should not be happening this goes to the issue of national security and this is irresponsible," said Representative Mike Turner, (R) Ohio's 10th District.
"It will result in not just some folks being laid off but I think it could also result in some programs being curtailed so we gotta figure out a smarter way," said Senator Rob Portman, (R) Ohio.
But for those living here, they're already thinking worst case scenario.
"Worst case you're gonna see some businesses close," said Spaziani, "Restaurants. eateries, whatever you want to call them, are the first to go."
Just a few weeks ago, the Commander of the base told us that something this far reaching hasn't happened at Wright-Patt in 20 years.
There are about 13-thousand civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that could be affected by the 22 day furlough.
But the unpaid leave won't only affect the base, but the local businesses surrounding it as well.
"A month ago I didn't even know what sequestration meant," said Tony Spazianni, Owner of Giovani's Ristorante in downtown Fairborn, which has bee a staple in the community for 60 years.
"It's been up and down heyday's has been when there were 25 to 30-thousand members there, and then cut back at 20-thousand," said Spaziani.
Even though they're serving up their famous pizza, business is down and he blame the threat of cuts.
"No body knows how it's going to affect you," he said.
"Loss of pay would not just be felt by our employees, it would be felt in the business communities where they serve, where their kids go to school, the neighborhoods they live in," said Jessica Wright, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
The worry about the loss of business goes beyond Fairborn, so we took those concerns to those who represent you in Congress.
"These furloughs should not be happening this goes to the issue of national security and this is irresponsible," said Representative Mike Turner, (R) Ohio's 10th District.
"It will result in not just some folks being laid off but I think it could also result in some programs being curtailed so we gotta figure out a smarter way," said Senator Rob Portman, (R) Ohio.
But for those living here, they're already thinking worst case scenario.
"Worst case you're gonna see some businesses close," said Spaziani, "Restaurants. eateries, whatever you want to call them, are the first to go."
Just a few weeks ago, the Commander of the base told us that something this far reaching hasn't happened at Wright-Patt in 20 years.