Wright-Patt implements Government Shutdown

  • Published
  • By Daryl Mayer
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  With the absence of an approved appropriation, organizations across Wright-Patterson began the process for an orderly shutdown Tuesday morning.

After reporting to work and receiving official notification, some 8,700 civilian employees returned home to wait until an appropriation to fund the government is passed.

Approximately 3,200 civilian employees with functions essential to national security and public safety are excepted and allowed to remain at work. This includes employees in foreign military sales, medical group, fire department, security forces, airfield operations, intelligence, and non-appropriated funded employees, to name a few.

"We want to thank our civilian employees for their continued service and strength in the face of adversity. We stand firm in stating that this government shutdown is not a reflection on the service of our employees and the value we place on their work," Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing commander said.

The excepted employees will be joined at work by active duty military members and some contractors. Because the President signed HR 3210, Pay Our Military Act, into law, the DoD is allowed to pay military personnel during the shutdown.

With the reduced workforce, base services will be impacted, including:

-- Delivery of official mail (mail will need to be picked up by every office)
-- Network operations and civil engineer maintenance will only respond to emergencies; routine requests will not be processed
-- The education office will only be open for WAPS testing and tuition assistance

Some organizations will be closed throughout the shutdown, including:

-- Base commissary will close effective Oct. 2
-- The FOIA office will be closed; FOIA requests will not be processed
-- Integrated Learning Center
-- Community and Airmen Center
-- Auto Hobby Shop (within the Consolidated Hobby Facility)
-- The National Museum of the United States Air Force
-- Civilian personnel office

"It has been through times like this when our Wright-Patt team has demonstrated a fortitude that makes us all proud to serve. I am confident that we will persevere through this latest challenge with the same determination demonstrated over and over again on our base," Barlow said. "We hope a resolution to this situation will happen quickly so that personnel impacts will be minimized and we can get back to best executing our critical mission."