A Hampton Roads shipbuilding company has furloughed 471 salaried workers effective immediately, according to a leaked email sent to employees on Friday.
Newport News Shipbuilding, owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries, or HII, has more than 25,000 employees. The furlough affects less than 2 percent of the company’s overall workforce.
The company is the largest private employer in Hampton Roads and largest industrial employer in Virginia.
Employees were notified Friday morning in an email sent by Newport News Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson.
“After careful review of our salaried workforce and business needs, we have furloughed 471 salaried shipbuilders across HII‘s Newport News Shipbuilding division,” said a statement sent to Virginia news outlets. “This decision was not made lightly given its impact on affected team members.
“We take this step, however, to increase accountability and efficiency, and to improve overall performance in meeting our current and future commitments to the U.S. Navy.”
It is unknown if the furloughs are in response to potential cuts from President Donald Trump and the Department of Defense who have been pushing federal government agencies to reduce waste and spending.
In April, HII announced it had been awarded a contract to construct two Block V submarines.
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Crystal Graham
