Essential operations will continue, as outlined in Deputy Secretary Shanahan’s guidance. These missions include those that support the military’s mission in Afghanistan and operations to combat al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issued a Memorandum for the Department of Defense to guide actions following the government shutdown on January 19.
The theme of Mattis’ statement draws on the can-do culture of the military. “We in the Department of Defense will continue carrying out our fundamental responsibility to defense our Nation and the American people,” he wrote.
The military will continue to operate, according to guidance published by Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan. The government shutdown may have impacted funding but the mission will continue.
Essential operations will continue, as outlined in Deputy Secretary Shanahan’s guidance. These missions include those that support the military’s mission in Afghanistan and operations to combat al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The military will also continue to support missions which are deemed necessary for safety of life and property.
Active duty military personnel will continue to go to work, without pay, until a spending bill or other legislation designating appropriate funds is passed. Reserve personnel and civilian employees supporting non-essential missions will not attend work or be paid during the shutdown.
“Steady as she goes—hold the line. I know our Nation can count on you,” the DoD Memorandum concluded. Mattis signed off with a hand-penned “Stay Alert” to our troops.
Why is the government shutdown?
The government shutdown occurred on January 20 following the expiration of the Continuing Resolution which funded the government in absence of a passed spending bill.
Congressional Democrats and Republicans are unable to agree on a spending bill. Immigration reform, border security, and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, remains a sticking point for many lawmakers. Funding for these programs and others are included in the spending bill.
President Trump has voiced his opinion on the impact that the shutdown has on the military on Twitter. “Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!” he tweeted following the shutdown.
Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
The last time the government shutdown was in 2013. Congress failed to agree on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which was ultimately passed under President Obama. The government was shutdown for sixteen days while Congress worked to make a deal.
What will be open?
The biggest question facing military members and their families is whether they will be paid. According to Deputy Secretary Shanahan’s guidance, “military personnel will not be paid until such time as Congress makes appropriated funds available to compensate them for this period of service.” The next military pay period will conclude on January 31, meaning Congress has a little over a week to pass a spending bill before military pay is impacted.
Active duty personnel and activated Reservists, as well as the civilian employees supporting essential missions, will continue to report to work. This is in keeping with the military tradition of “mission first” and is consistent with the expectations of military members in previous situations.
Essential operations will remain open and functional. It is up to individual branches and commanders to determine which of their missions are deemed essential, according to the guidance published. Scheduled deployments, national security-related missions, and recruitment efforts and processing are some examples of what is deemed essential and excepted from shutdown requirements.
“We in the Department of Defense will continue carrying out our fundamental responsibility to defense our Nation and the American people,” Secretary of Defense Mattis wrote in a memorandum.
Those families moving under permanent change of station (PCS) orders may be impacted by the shutdown. If they are on their way to a new command which is deemed essential, they will continue that process. Those who are schedule to leave essential missions, they will remain until a new bill is passed. Recruitment and accession travel will also continue in order to meet the continuing needs of the military. Those separating from the military will only execute their final move if the funds were already allocated prior to the shutdown.
On military bases, safety and infrastructure services will continue to operate. This includes fire protection, law enforcement, and security functions. Additionally, maintenance services in military housing and barracks will continue to be provided.
Medical services, including counseling, crisis intervention, and support for sexual assault victims, suicide prevention and substance abuse programs, will also continue to operate during the shutdown. Department of Defense Medical Treatment Facilities and private care covered under the military insurance program TRICARE will continue to be offered. While emergency and preventative care will continue, elective procedures will be postponed until after a spending bill is passed.
Childcare centers will also be open during the shutdown. Military exchanges, stores offering household and other goods, will remain open as they are not funded with government appropriations.
What will be closed?
The majority of non-excepted activities that are expected to shutdown include quality of life programs. While Department of Defense schools will continue to be in session, sports and other extracurricular activities funded with appropriated funds will not be offered. In the case of military academies and other institutions of higher education, military students will only attend classes taught by military instructors.
Temporary travel to support non-essential training, professional development, or conferences will be cancelled. If travel already began, the military members will be expected to return to their original duty stations as quickly as possible. Some exceptions, such as travel to support military operations in specific essential missions, will continue but only with written approval from senior leaders.
According to DOD guidance, some commissaries, or military grocery stores, will remain open during the shutdown, but most will close during the shutdown. Overseas commissaries and those in specifically listed remote locations will remain open. All other stateside commissaries will be closed within a few days of the shutdown, after they are able to “reduce the amount of perishables on-hand and properly safeguard equipment and facilities.”
If the gov't shuts down, here's what to expect regarding the operating
status of #DoD programs affecting military communities & families. #GovernmentShutDown
Read: https://t.co/nJdVDtZgFS— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) January 19, 2018
