Posted on 09/28/2015 8:19:10 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
Troops may miss paychecks and civilians may be kept at home if Congress doesn't act to prevent a government shutdown later this week.
A memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work last week outlined the steps the military would take if Congress doesn't pass a 2016 appropriations bill by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, when the federal fiscal year ends.
Work said he and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter hope Congress will provide an appropriations bill or continuing resolution to prevent the shutdown.
"The administration is willing to work with the Congress to enact a short-term continuing resolution to fund critical government operations and allow Congress the time to complete the full year 2016 appropriations," he said in the Friday memo.
Work said a potential shutdown would not effect overseas operations, such as those in Iraq or Afghanistan. He said other operations, "necessary for the safety of human life or the protection of property" would also continue.
And while active-duty military personnel will continue in a "normal duty status," Work said those troops would "not be paid until such time as Congress makes appropriated funds available to compensate them for this period of service."
Civilian personnel who are required to work will be treated the same way, while others will be furloughed.
The potential shutdown comes two years after the last government shutdown, which lasted 16 days in October 2013.
During that shutdown, half the roughly 14,500 civilian workers on Fort Bragg were put on indefinite furlough and soldiers and their families were forced to curb spending in the face of unknown delays to their paychecks.
The shutdown also led to backed up maintenance at Pope Field, grounding planes longer than usual, and prevented local National Guard, Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve troops from training.
Other possible effects of a a potential shutdown this year include stopping travel and conference participation by members of the military and halting the renewal or extension of contracts.
Work's memo also outlined potential stoppages in regards to procurement and military construction, if it involves appropriations that lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The memo did not direct specific shutdown-related actions.
"The secretary and I hope that Congress will pass a funding bill and the Department of Defense will avoid a shutdown," he said. "This guidance is intended to support prudent planning."
Why does it never mean “the EBT cards quit working”?
The Army is a Constitutional requirement.
The EBT cards are a Constitutional violation.
Why is it the Republicans’ fault? Make Obama veto the spending bill. It’s on his head.
MSM is so corrupt in this country. Uni-party and no free press and our nation’s existence is in jeopardy. God is giving us what we deserve as a nation...
That's why they have the EBT cards. They don't even have to lick a stamp to pay their plantation slaves now.
BO’s priorities. If the GOP congress had any guts, they would force him to defend Planned Parenthood and their lucrative Dr. Josef Mengele side business.
If a frog had wings ...
Better tell Obama he'd better just sign the budget and not shut down the government.
Maybe the unpaid troops can stage a coup? They might get a lot of support from the rest of the country.
Here we go with the shutdown hysteria. On cue.
Better tell Obama he'd better just sign the budget and not shut down the government.
A budget? We haven't had a Budget in years. All we've had is a string of CR's. ALL of Congress is derelict in their duties. Somebody with some BIG ones needs to insist on an actual budget.
I have a question. Since the 2008 financial crisis, and the $700 billion stimulus included in the budget, has there ever been a REAL budget passed by congress?
Or has there been no real, constitutionally-mandated budget passed every year since 2008, but instead a “continuing resolution? Please correct me if am wrong, but is the $700 billion stimulus being authorized every year by “CONTINUING” what was passed in 2008?
Thanks, Auntie Dem. You have answered my question while I was composing it.
Because the gummint is also charged with maintaining domestic tranquility.
I assume he will order the National Park service to drape tarps over Mount Rushmore and demand Yellowstone shut off the water flow to Old Faithful and Yellowstone Falls.
Maybe even deflate the Teton Mountains till they are flat! Can’t have citizens enjoying the view as they drive by!
Here we go again.
Long past time to quit being held hostage by the do-nothing parasite class and the do-nothing-but-evil criminal class.
Let them riot.
If they burn their own neighborhood ... too bad, so sad. Let them try to rebuild.
If they try to burn someone else’s neighborhood, kill them.
The Public HATES shutdowns. The Republicans will get blamed. Our polls will tank and in the end will be begging Obama for mercy. The only people who like shutdowns more then the folks on this board are Obama and Jarrett
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not.
The last “shutdown” resonated in the 2014 Pubbie victory (one they squandered BTW).
The public could care less about a shutdown; in fact as things stand today I think the public would welcome one to get fedzilla off our back for a couple weeks.
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