Furlough Days Start This Week for Some Chantilly Residents

By Beth Lawton

Some federal government employees have already been through a few furlough days, but for many people those unpaid days off start this week.

That includes thousands of National Guard soldiers and airmen, civilian and military Pentagon employees and thousands of other federal government employees.

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told WTOP that he heard more about sequestration and furloughs than any other issue over the holiday weekend as he visited constituents.

It’s a financial hit many can’t afford, but that doesn’t mean furloughed employees have to sit home all day twiddling their thumbs: Fortunately, DC has many free, air conditioned museums and other things to do.

When Patch asked readers this spring what they planned to do with their coming furlough days, Northern Virginia residents said they’d be looking for part-time work or creative ways to make up their lost income, unpacking those boxes that have been sitting in the basement, reading a book that’s been sitting on their nightstand (or in your iPad or Kindle) for weeks or hitting one of the local public pools.

What are you doing with your forced unpaid vacation days? Tell us in the comments below!