Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carterannounced to the Senate that if his employees in the Department of Defense suffered a pay cut because of Sequestration, he'd voluntarily give the Treasury the same portion of his own salary as a demonstration of solidarity.
At his testimony in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 14, Carter detailed what necessary employee furloughs would entail:
All the Services and Agencies are likely to have to furlough most DoD civilian employees for an average of one day per week for up to 22 weeks.[...] During this period, furloughs will result in a 20 percent cut in pay for civilians who support our national defense – which will affect their morale.
Carter — as a Senate-confirmed employee — cannot be furloughed under the law. But the Deputy Secretary of Defense announced this immensely classy move to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
"If our employees are furloughed, I intend to give back to the Treasury the same portion of my salary, and I encourage all of us – Executive Branch and Legislative Branch – to do the same."