Preparing for gov't shutdown

The departments of defense and veterans affairs have issued information to workers of the possibility of a government shutdown Oct. 1, if a funding resolution cannot be worked out in Congress. Employees were warned of possible office closures, program interruptions and potential furloughs that will result from a budget lapse. The moves won’t mean work stoppage for active-duty service members, but it could mean a disruption in pay. Senate Republicans blocked a bid by Democrats to push through legislation to extend the current federal budget past Oct. 1. Many government agencies will run out of funding and be forced to shutter temporarily. Ninety six percent of VA employees will not have to worry about furloughs in a shutdown, and most VA programs, including medical care, benefits processing and burials at VA cemeteries, will continue uninterrupted because of advanced funding from Congress. The effects at the DoD would be more severe. Active-duty troops will continue working. Reserve personnel performing active duty functions will continue, but inactive duty functions will be cancelled. Civilian personnel who are “necessary to carry out or support excepted activities” will be able to work after Sept. 30 - about 357,000 civilian workers (429,000 would be furloughed). (Source: Military Times 09/27/21) DoD, VA officials prep for a possible government shutdown later this week (militarytimes.com)

Last week, Veterans Affairs officials released their shutdown contingency plan, which will be less severe than other department’s because of advance appropriations approved by Congress in last year’s budget agreement.