GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — Malmstrom Air Force Base officials are handing out notices of furloughs to its civilian employees.

The furloughs are the result of automatic federal budget cuts that began taking effect earlier this year.

Civilian personnel officer Annette Terry says 525 civilians in a range of jobs, from medical to maintenance personnel, will be given furloughs.

The furloughs will be for 11 days per employee.

The furlough period begins July 8 and lasts through Sept. 30. Workers will be required to take off one eight-hour shift per week without pay for that period, totaling 88 hours.

Terry says there will be a handful of exceptions.

Malmstrom officials began notifying civilian employees on Thursday.

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