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Since Congress failed to pass normal appropriations or a stopgap budget before the start of the fiscal year on Tuesday, the federal government is officially shut down.
But not every function of the federal government is affected. Impacts to the National Guard largely depends on the status of the personnel involved in a particular function.
Guardsmen on federal orders, Title 10 or Title 32, will continue in a normal duty status but without pay.
The same with Active Guard and Reserve personnel, according to Department of War Contingency Plan Guidance released Sunday.
They also may be asked to carry out nonexcepted activities normally done by civilian personnel that have been furloughed.
Some federal technicians will also continue to work without pay, but others will be furloughed.
“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 guidance said.
Typically, drill periods or training are not authorized during the shutdown unless in support of excepted activities. It is advisable to contact your unit directly for clear guidance.
Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president, joined by retired Maj. Gen. John B. Hashem, the president of the Reserve Organization of America; and retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, the executive director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, warned congressional leaders of the impact a shutdown would have on the Total Force.
“A government closure would have severe consequences on the total force, undermining readiness and the ability to prepare and respond to our nation’s threats,” they wrote in a Sept. 29 letter.
In the event of a shutdown, they called on lawmakers to pass the Pay our Troops Act of 2025, a measure introduced in March by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., to continue appropriations for pay and allowances for members of the armed forces.
The last government shutdown occurred over a 34-day period between December 2018 and January 2019. However, Congress already had passed defense appropriations, so service member pay was not impacted.
Resources regarding the lapse of appropriations can be found here.
—By Jennifer Hickey
