Letter to Secretary of Defense Hagel - Provide Pay & Allowances To Civilian Personnel Supporting Our Military

Letter

Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) teamed up with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel expressing their concerns regarding the impact of the current government shutdown on the civilian workforce at the Department of Defense (DOD) and urging him to implement the authority given to him in the Pay Our Military Act to provide pay and allowances to Guardsmen, reservists and civilian personnel who are providing support to active duty troops. Portman and Tester are respectively the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce.

In Ohio, 8,700 civilian employees have been furloughed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and 5,000 civilian employees at Defense Supply Center in Columbus, Ohio are expected to face potential furloughs in the coming days. Additionally, the Ohio National Guard has been forced to furlough 1800 employees throughout the state.

In the letter, Portman and Tester encourage Sec. Hagel to take swift action and highlight the important support functions conducted at places like Wright-Patt and Columbus, stating, "The furloughs brought about by this government shutdown will undoubtedly impact the effectiveness and readiness of our military. From logistics, finance and accounting services to managing the acquisition and maintenance of much-needed capabilities for today and the future, our service members greatly depend upon these men and women to do their jobs and keep us safe."

Portman and Tester add, "We urge you to swiftly review and implement the authority given to you, and ask that you keep our Subcommittee informed of any changes made to your workforce policies.

Today's letter to DOD appears below.

October 2, 2013

The Honorable Chuck Hagel
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Secretary Hagel,

As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee tasked with oversight of the federal workforce, we write concerning the impact of the federal government shutdown on the Defense Department civilian workforce, as well as members of the Reserve Component. We are particularly interested in the manner in which your department is implementing furloughs during the lapse in appropriations.

The Pay Our Military Act, signed into law on September 30, 2013, gave the Defense Department authority to provide pay and allowances to active duty service members, but also the latitude to include Guardsmen, reservists and civilian personnel providing support to those active duty troops. However, it remains unclear how the department will interpret and carry out this legislation. That uncertainty is providing additional hardships for Defense Department civilians who are struggling to mitigate the impacts on the government shutdown on their pocketbooks and their families, and it is forcing Guard units across the country to cancel drill exercises amidst uncertainty about whether those men and women can be paid.

The furloughs brought about by this government shutdown will undoubtedly impact the effectiveness and readiness of our military. From logistics, finance and accounting services to managing the acquisition and maintenance of much-needed capabilities for today and the future, our service members greatly depend upon these men and women to do their jobs and keep us safe. We understand that you are currently reviewing the impact of this legislation on your workforce policies. We urge you to swiftly review and implement the authority given to you, and ask that you keep our Subcommittee informed of any changes made to your workforce policies.

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