12/15/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense could be affected by a possible government shutdown if an omnibus appropriations bill is not approved before the current appropriation expires Dec. 16 at midnight, wrote Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter in a memorandum Dec. 14.
In the memo, which was addressed to all Department of Defense employees, Carter explained how the shutdown would affect the DOD's civilian workforce.
"Prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress fail to complete its work or to pass another short-term continuing resolution that would give it more time to take up these important matters," he wrote.
While DOD civilians may face furlough, military personnel are not subject to furlough and will report for duty as normal during a shutdown, Carter wrote.
