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By Leonardo Feldman
White House Reporter
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Economic effects from a government shutdown are obvious and plentiful, but national security experts warn that an extended lapse in government funding also puts the country at risk, even if it doesn't significantly affect the day-to-day operations of the U.S. military.
“The message that this sends to our allies, to the country domestically, the message that this sends to our enemies is not good,” said Bryan Stern, a national security expert who founded the international rescue organization Grey Bull Rescue. “I think that’s a very real national security threat.”
Stern is a veteran with experience rescuing Americans stranded in war zones. He emphasized that the longer the shutdown drags on, the larger the risks become. “The world has become so volatile and so dangerous,” he said, adding that “today we have active conflict in every theater.”
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Active-duty military are generally considered essential personnel in a shutdown scenario, and the Pentagon has required essential workers to report for duty for the duration of any lapse in funding. “Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law,” the defense department states on its website.
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But those deemed non-essential have been furloughed, leaving some functions unmanned and placing the country in a vulnerable state. The website read, "Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status."
A government document on the contingency plans indicated that "civilian personnel, including military technicians**,** who are not necessary to carry out or support activities, are to be furloughed using lapse in appropriations (often referred to as “shutdown”) procedures and guidance provided by the Office of Personnel Management. Only the minimum number of civilian employees necessary to carry out excepted activities will be excepted from furlough."
Stern warned that these vulnerabilities, coupled with the perception the shutdown projects abroad, could deepen the national security threat.
He also told Newsweek that this shutdown, coming just after the chaos of the DOGE era, could also have implications for retaining top talent in national security posts. For government employees living paycheck to paycheck, being furloughed or having to work without pay until a bill is signed might be the tipping point for them to depart for the private sector.
"It's already hard to make you work for the government and make $50k, $60k, $70k a year," he said.
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