CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Hundreds of civilian military employees in Wyoming could be furloughed if cuts in U.S. defense spending go through.

The Department of Defense has announced 800,000 in total potential furloughs if Congress and President Barack Obama are unable to avert automatic budget cuts on March 1.

Officials tell the Casper Star-Tribune that more than 700 civilian workers at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne could lose about $8,000 in pay every year.

The Defense Department says the furloughs would have a $5.4 million fiscal impact on Wyoming in fiscal year 2013.

Deidre Forster of the Wyoming Military Department says 700 military technicians in the Wyoming National Guard would also be subject to the furloughs, but officials are still unsure how many will have their hours cut.

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