DHS re-evaluating furlough plans, overtime cuts

WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department says it's re-evaluating plans to furlough border agents and cut overtime because of the automatic federal government spending cuts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday the agency will postpone previously announced plans to furlough border patrol agents and officers for at least 14 days.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has previously said the forced budget cuts would mean the equivalent of losing about 5,000 border patrol agents.

In a statement, the agency said a provision of a spending bill that Congress passed last month allows it to "mitigate to some degree" the impacts of the reduced budget on operations and on the workforce."

The furloughs were expected to begin as soon as later this month.