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The department\u2019s ‘highest priorities’ will revolve around operations securing the US Southern border, operations in the Middle East, designing Golden Dome, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions, according to the guidance.<\/em> WASHINGTON \u2014 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.<\/p>\n \u201cActivities 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,\u201d the document said. The secretary of defense \u201cmay, at any time, determine that additional activities shall be treated as excepted,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Fiscal 2025 is sunsetting when the clock strikes midnight Wednesday. Congress has not yet approved FY26 spending bills, and Democrats and Republicans have not reached an agreement on a continuing resolution to keep the government open. If a stopgap measure is not approved by both chambers and signed by President Donald Trump, the federal government will shut down.<\/p>\n For DoD, that means that military personnel on active duty \u2014 including reserve component personnel on federal active duty \u2014 will continue reporting for duty and may be asked to carry out non-excepted activities normally done by civilian personnel that have been furloughed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nBy Ashley Roque <\/strong><\/p>\n