Transtector-Polyphaser announced Wednesday that it has laid off 15 people in its Hayden manufacturing facility due largely in part to reduced federal defense spending.

Kendra Carroll, vice president of human resources, said parent company Smiths Power is feeling the effects of the federal sequestration, or budget cuts, on this year's defense spending.

"The Hayden business is an important part of Smiths Power: however, like many other businesses, our end markets remain very challenging," she said. "Consequently it is regrettable but necessary for us to reduce our costs in order to maintain our competitiveness in the market."

Carroll said another three positions were cut in the company's Nevada facility. All employees impacted have been informed and are receiving appropriate support.

Transtector primarily manufactures power surge protection equipment. They employ roughly 150 people at the Hayden facility.

The sequester, or budget cuts, stem from the Budget Control Act of 2011, where congress and the president agreed to cut spending in several budget categories.

The spending reductions total a little more than $84 billion, with about half of those cuts taking place in the defense budget.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the sequester will reduce this year's economic growth by 0.6 percent, and will affect the creation or retention of 750,000 jobs nationwide this year.