Pentagon readies contingency plans for government shutdown [View all]

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/pentagon-readies-contingency-plans-for-government-shutdown/

WASHINGTON — With less than two days left before the US government potentially shuts down, the Department of Defense has issued contingency guidance to the force outlining six priorities and contracting plans.

“Activities that are determined not to be excepted, and which cannot be performed by utilizing military personnel in place of furloughed civilian personnel, will be suspended when appropriated funds are no longer available,” the document said. The secretary of defense “may, at any time, determine that additional activities shall be treated as excepted,” it added.
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“Civilian personnel, including military technicians, who are not necessary to carry out or support excepted activities, are to be furloughed using lapse in appropriations (often referred to as ‘shutdown’) procedures and guidance provided by the Office of Personnel Management,” the Pentagon guidance said. “Only the minimum number of civilian employees necessary to carry out excepted activities will be excepted from furlough.”

The department’s “highest priorities,” according to the guidance, will revolve around operations securing the US Southern border, operations in the Middle East, designing Golden Dome, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions.
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