Posted on Sep 25, 2015
"DOD: No troop pay, civilians could be furloughed if government shuts down"
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From: Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON – Troops will not get paychecks and Defense Department civilians could be furloughed if Congress fails to pass a new federal budget and the government shuts down Thursday, according to a DOD memo sent out to personnel.
The department was still holding out hope for a solution on Capitol Hill, according to the Friday memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. However, if lawmakers do not act by midnight Wednesday, the fallout could be similar to the last government shutdown in 2013, which caused turmoil and temporarily forced about 350,000 Pentagon workers on leave without pay.
“During a government shutdown, all military personnel would continue in a normal duty status. However, they would not be paid until Congress provides funding,” Work wrote.
The DOD has updated its plans to determine which civilians will continue reporting to work and which will be furloughed, he wrote. The letter did not provide any additional details.
“As we saw in 2013, should a shutdown occur, and depending on the length of the shutdown, these determinations may change over time as circumstances evolve,” Work wrote.
The last time the government shut down for more than two weeks – over attempts to defund Obamacare -- about 800,000 federal workers were placed on furlough. But the DOD was able to bring its civilians back to work after about a week.
Troops and personnel were to be contacted by their chains of command with more details on the shutdown plans.
The clock was ticking on Capitol Hill on Friday with a glimmer of hope for a budget deal in the Senate early next week following a fight over defunding Planned Parenthood, but there was major political upheaval in the House with the announced resignation of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Senators rejected a temporary Republican budget Thursday that would have cut all support for the federally subsidized health care provider, in what was seen as an attempt to appease right-wing conservatives in the party.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was set to introduce a new budget resolution Monday that could fund the government at current levels until December but does not include the controversial Planned Parenthood measure.
“There are two different roads that we can take. One is to insist that no more money go to Planned Parenthood and cause a government shutdown,” McConnell said after his first budget proposal failed Thursday. “The other is to take a slightly longer-term approach, taking advantage of the fact that we have the attention of the country as probably never before.”
However, the effort to defund Planned Parenthood using a federal budget bill may not be over in the House.
Boehner stunned Washington by announcing he will resign from Congress in October, a move that was seen as a victory for conservative Republicans who want to a more hardline strategy on Planned Parenthood and other issues.
“It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House,” he said in a written statement. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on Oct. 30.”
Boehner’s ouster showed the power of his far-right foes in the party, who may insist on defunding the health care organization and hold up any budget in the meantime.
http://www.stripes.com/dod-no-troop-pay-civilians-could-be-furloughed-if-government-shuts-down-1.370194
WASHINGTON – Troops will not get paychecks and Defense Department civilians could be furloughed if Congress fails to pass a new federal budget and the government shuts down Thursday, according to a DOD memo sent out to personnel.
The department was still holding out hope for a solution on Capitol Hill, according to the Friday memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. However, if lawmakers do not act by midnight Wednesday, the fallout could be similar to the last government shutdown in 2013, which caused turmoil and temporarily forced about 350,000 Pentagon workers on leave without pay.
“During a government shutdown, all military personnel would continue in a normal duty status. However, they would not be paid until Congress provides funding,” Work wrote.
The DOD has updated its plans to determine which civilians will continue reporting to work and which will be furloughed, he wrote. The letter did not provide any additional details.
“As we saw in 2013, should a shutdown occur, and depending on the length of the shutdown, these determinations may change over time as circumstances evolve,” Work wrote.
The last time the government shut down for more than two weeks – over attempts to defund Obamacare -- about 800,000 federal workers were placed on furlough. But the DOD was able to bring its civilians back to work after about a week.
Troops and personnel were to be contacted by their chains of command with more details on the shutdown plans.
The clock was ticking on Capitol Hill on Friday with a glimmer of hope for a budget deal in the Senate early next week following a fight over defunding Planned Parenthood, but there was major political upheaval in the House with the announced resignation of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Senators rejected a temporary Republican budget Thursday that would have cut all support for the federally subsidized health care provider, in what was seen as an attempt to appease right-wing conservatives in the party.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was set to introduce a new budget resolution Monday that could fund the government at current levels until December but does not include the controversial Planned Parenthood measure.
“There are two different roads that we can take. One is to insist that no more money go to Planned Parenthood and cause a government shutdown,” McConnell said after his first budget proposal failed Thursday. “The other is to take a slightly longer-term approach, taking advantage of the fact that we have the attention of the country as probably never before.”
However, the effort to defund Planned Parenthood using a federal budget bill may not be over in the House.
Boehner stunned Washington by announcing he will resign from Congress in October, a move that was seen as a victory for conservative Republicans who want to a more hardline strategy on Planned Parenthood and other issues.
“It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House,” he said in a written statement. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on Oct. 30.”
Boehner’s ouster showed the power of his far-right foes in the party, who may insist on defunding the health care organization and hold up any budget in the meantime.
http://www.stripes.com/dod-no-troop-pay-civilians-could-be-furloughed-if-government-shuts-down-1.370194
Government
DoD
Troops
Government Shutdown
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 62
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If the government shuts down again I am sure USAA and navy federal credit union will issue interest free payday lowns if you need them. Other wise just sit back wait all you can do.
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I wonder if they will furlough mission essential personnel. They didn't last time.
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This would be a first, wouldn't it? In all the budget related government shut-downs in the past, there was never a problem with military members getting paid that I can remember.
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Ill walk out if they do, we dont get payed enough to deal with the bull shit every day let alone the hours. Oh wait Welfare is still being funded to all the illegals! Granted if I was overseas I would keep fighting but being stateside with my thumb up my ass. We'll see what happens when all of us stateside walk off the base and how quick they figure there shit out.
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We are getting less and less a chip in politics as many see us not at war anymore.
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Not so worried on this however The U.S. hit its $18.1 trillion debt limit in March and the Treasury Department has been using accounting maneuvers since then to extend the nation’s borrowing ability. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew has estimated the agency would be able to continue borrowing at least through late October and urged Congress to raise the limit before then. If this comes to a debt limit impasse this will be bad as it will affect our credit rating thus sinking the equity markets. The current fiscal policies are not inline with entitlements and are unsustainable yet we allow those in charge to plod along unaffected dueling it out in some political pissing contest. I say vote the lot out to send a clear message that the people are in charge and we demand leadership.
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SPC David S.
While it looks good there is a bit of slight of hand in this claim.
Last year’s deficit was $483 billion, 2.1 percent of gross domestic product, the lowest level since 2008. This year is projected to be $426 billion. While it looks like a nice $57 billion reduction this is not the case. The government collected $196 billion more in taxes than during the same period last year. Spending was also $198 billion higher for that same period this year compared to last year. It increased for entitlement programs Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Some of the $198 billion came from the Defense Department. Spending on the military fell by 2 percent. Cutting defense and raising taxes in my book is not a cut in spending more like robbing Peter to pay Paul. All said in done we're still spending more than we take in.
Last year’s deficit was $483 billion, 2.1 percent of gross domestic product, the lowest level since 2008. This year is projected to be $426 billion. While it looks like a nice $57 billion reduction this is not the case. The government collected $196 billion more in taxes than during the same period last year. Spending was also $198 billion higher for that same period this year compared to last year. It increased for entitlement programs Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Some of the $198 billion came from the Defense Department. Spending on the military fell by 2 percent. Cutting defense and raising taxes in my book is not a cut in spending more like robbing Peter to pay Paul. All said in done we're still spending more than we take in.
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I know that last year or 2 years ago when this all went down before....banks like USAA and others put it out that they would continue depositing identical pay into accounts of their members even if the Government didn't send pay checks. They would consider it an "interest free loan" to the member and would keep the money $ for $ of pay once it was released. (if you got promoted and your pay went up, you would get the extra type of thing). The civilians got furloughed and life sucked for a bit....but things ended up coming thru ok.
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How many times has the military NOT been paid with a full or part government shutdown. The Congress will pass an exemption, as they have done in the past. Will President Obama sign it as before? Yes. Were it not for the Park Service and some government contractors, it would have gone unnoticed in 2013. Remember how some were paid Unemployment in addition to pay and created an issue?
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Notice how it's the men and women in uniform who may suffer, and not the millions collecting welfare
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