With less than two days before a potential U.S. government shutdown, the Department of War has issued contingency guidance outlining six priorities and contracting plans.
The document warns that activities not deemed “excepted”, and unable to be performed by military personnel in place of furloughed civilian staff, will be suspended once funding lapses, though the defense secretary may designate additional activities as excepted.
Fiscal 2025 funding expires at midnight Wednesday, and without a continuing resolution approved by Congress and signed by President Trump, the government will shut down. Active-duty troops, including reserve personnel on federal orders, will continue to serve and may be tasked with duties normally handled by furloughed civilians. Only the minimum number of civilian employees needed to carry out excepted activities will remain at work.
The Pentagon identified its highest priorities as securing the U.S. southern border, supporting operations in the Middle East, advancing the Golden Dome initiative, and maintaining depot work, shipbuilding, and critical munitions. Contractors can continue work on previously awarded projects, but new contracts cannot be executed during a lapse in appropriations.
