Sequester Claims More than 80 Security Jobs at INL

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The federal government budget cuts that went into effect last Friday are expected to claim up to 84 security staff jobs at the Idaho National Laboratory. The layoffs come from the safeguards and security program, which is segregated from other lab programs and falls under the Department of Defense budget.

The across-the-board budget cuts that kicked in Friday total about $85 billion and impact most federal agencies. The security job layoffs are just the start of rollbacks anticipated at the eastern Idaho facility. Spokesman Brad Bugger says administrators chopped $6.7 million from INL's overall $93.3 million budget in response to the federal cuts.

Bugger also says impacts from the reduction will be varied, but could include more employee layoffs, research agreements and Homeland Security activities.