Ackerman has worked for four years as a brigade barracks manager at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He's "preparing for the worst," and expects a furlough to cut his salary by $900 each month.
A military veteran, with a total of 29 years working in defense jobs, Ackerman has also served in three combat tours.
He blames the rise of the anti-government Tea Party movement within the Republican Party for the federal budget cuts. He says Tea Party enthusiasts have made it impossible for Washington leaders to get a fair deal to cut deficits.
"We're going to be very cautious about where we spend our money. I will not spend 1 cent on a Tea-Party owned business," said Ackerman.
