Fed Shutdown

Jason Perry

Jason Perry

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Fed shutdown 3.pngThis thread is for discussing and sharing updates on the lapse of appropriations that has resulted in the Federal Government Shutdown. Let's keep this off of politics or blame for any politician or party. This is meant to focus on the impact on Servicemembers, Veterans, and Family members.

I may add more later, but I wanted to at least share that the Department of Justice attorneys assigned to military disability retirement and related issues in the US Court of Federal Claims (CoFC) are furloughed and cannot work on cases until funding is restored. Over the last few days, I have received several requests for consent for motions to stay cases in my matters in the CoFC. I would imagine that any District Court, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims would have similar delays. Another point to consider is that once funding is restored, every attorney with a case that was stayed will end up having a backlog of matters that need to be rescheduled. If this resolves quickly, I don't expect much impact. However, if this goes on for 30 days or longer, it will start to have a larger impact.
 
Is it safe to say that the whole process is on hold until our elected officials do their jobs? I just got my permanent profile and MEB referral last weekend and am curious about the process on the guard side (our TAG ordered any unit scheduled for a PHA report for drill despite the shutdown).
 
I signed my DA199 and received my final disposition of medical retirement on 8Oct however the orders office at my installations TAP office has closed and no separation orders are being issued.

I'm now in limbo and still reporting to work as usual despite being found unfit for duty. Hopefully this ends soon and I can start outprocessing.
 
I’m at fort bliss. just signed my da199 friday. so does this mean i’ll be stuck there until the shutdown is over? i was waiting for my ratings since june. this is a wrong time for a shutdown
 
kee1999 said:
I’m at fort bliss. just signed my da199 friday. so does this mean i’ll be stuck there until the shutdown is over? i was waiting for my ratings since june. this is a wrong time for a shutdown
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For real..Hopefully your not affected
 
kee1999 said:
I’m at fort bliss. just signed my da199 friday. so does this mean i’ll be stuck there until the shutdown is over? i was waiting for my ratings since june. this is a wrong time for a shutdown
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Unfortunately yes, you may be able yo get your ratings and Da199 signed off, but you won't get orders needed to outprocess.
 
tkas0213 said:
Currently on terminal leave, anyone else in the same situation?
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Was supposed to start this coming Wednesday. I guess I’m in limbo too. Once the government opens I can see there being a big backlog of getting orders processed.
 
I am seeing a mix of impacts. Hard to list them all, but mainly civilians are directly impacted....but, that means that the military personnel are having to pick up "slack," so it seems that a lot is slowed down. I am talking about small to large things. Delays in responses to emails or filings being a big factor. But, I am also seeing slowing of actions within the IDES/DES process. I had an Air Force Formal PEB two weeks ago. The Air Force doesn't announce the decision at the end of the hearing, they forward a copy of their decision later, but usually within a few days to a week. Still awaiting the decision.
This is probably a bellwether:

www.armytimes.com

Soldier enlistments to be extended by 45 days because of shutdown

Soldiers scheduled to transition out of the Army during the government shutdown will now see their service extended for 45 days.
www.armytimes.com www.armytimes.com
 
I just found out that during the shutdown, VSOs aren’t allowed to do in-person work at VA regional offices. So veterans can’t get face-to-face help right now. Honestly, that doesn’t seem right. Has anyone else run into this?
 
My DES Counsel called me on Sept 16th and informed me that the PEB had found me unfit and recommended 100% disability, to get in contact with my PEBLO and generate my package for TERA under waiving PEB findings. On Sept 17th I called my PEBLO and told him, "Whenever you get the official documents, I'll be ready to sign." He stated the PEB was undergoing a data migration to a new software system and the PEB is delayed anywhere between 2-4 weeks with generating official findings for elections/signatures/accepting and to contact him weekly unless he contacts me first. On September 18th the PEB apparently shutdown completely and shortly after, the government shutdown.

How do we have a policy drafted at the request of uniformed service members, for uniform service members, decided on by uniformed service members, with the approving authority being uniformed service members, as an opportunity for uniform service members, responsible by the uniformed service members to draft/justify/request/submit, but all the documents required to complete the process are created and liaised by civilians? How is it we have people as single points of failure that are gate keepers of information that prevent us from being able to complete the process? This is the military. Recruiters are still putting bodies in, why cant we figure out a way to allow people to leave?

Regardless, anyone else hear anything about the PEB software data migration? If this is true?
 
WarDuhh said:
My DES Counsel called me on Sept 16th and informed me that the PEB had found me unfit and recommended 100% disability, to get in contact with my PEBLO and generate my package for TERA under waiving PEB findings. On Sept 17th I called my PEBLO and told him, "Whenever you get the official documents, I'll be ready to sign." He stated the PEB was undergoing a data migration to a new software system and the PEB is delayed anywhere between 2-4 weeks with generating official findings for elections/signatures/accepting and to contact him weekly unless he contacts me first. On September 18th the PEB apparently shutdown completely and shortly after, the government shutdown.

How do we have a policy drafted at the request of uniformed service members, for uniform service members, decided on by uniformed service members, with the approving authority being uniformed service members, as an opportunity for uniform service members, responsible by the uniformed service members to draft/justify/request/submit, but all the documents required to complete the process are created and liaised by civilians? How is it we have people as single points of failure that are gate keepers of information that prevent us from being able to complete the process? This is the military. Recruiters are still putting bodies in, why cant we figure out a way to allow people to leave?

Regardless, anyone else hear anything about the PEB software data migration? If this is true?
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I’m in the same stage like you. Even if the government opens back up in the next 2 weeks like Citi and Sachs predict, an end of service before 2026 for people in the findings stage is almost unrealistic sadly
 
Made a myFSS case to see if PEB for the Air Force is working, seems I got a grey answer.

"Yyour PEB case was received on 22 Oct 25 but due to the goverment shutdown PEB processing has been delayed. Your PEBLO will notify you once a PEB decision has been made."

This doesnt really say they are still actively viewing cases, but doesnt explicitly say they are shutdown.
 
Did anyone else get the PDIR in September, but the MPD didn’t publish your orders, so now your being told you just have to wait until the govt. reopens to get your orders and your date of separation is in December?
 
An Army FPEB case of mine was rescehduled about a month ago to today, 7 NOV 2025. Normally, what happens is the week before the hearig, the FPEB staff sends the contact information for the board members via email, and then the board President or Personnel Management Officer (PMO) reaches out to confirm the start time and give other instructions. This includes requested deadline for submitting the Contention, coordinating need for any DoD SAFE drop-off if needed for PII reasons, and providing meeting links. I didn't get any such contact last week, which I chalked up to impact of shutdown. By Tuesday, I decided to check in with the staff to confirm that the board was going to proceed as scheduled and requesting the PMO contact info. Got dead air, so on Wednesday, I resent request to the main admin group email and yesterday got a short email stating that the case was rescheduled, no new date yet, and they would contact me in the future to set up a new date. I had anticipated this possibility, but I was surprised that I hadn't received notice without requesting confirmation and that I didn't hear until the day before the hearing date. That indicates to me that they are strectched thin and unable to deal with anything but the most immediate issues.

I suspect that not only are they swamped dealing with current issues while understaffed, but that cases will be backlogged. I have nothing firm to confirm this, it is just logical that while many of the staff are furloughed or otherwise not working, that the remaining folks are having to deal with all that they can and that there will be a backlog. Another factor is that over the years, as the holidays approach (both Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's) I have seen a (smaller) delay at the end of November, a slight backlog, and then a bigger one towards the end of December. It usually takes well into January and early February that this begins to clear. I think the shutdown and delays will amplify this effect. We will have to see how all of this shakes out.
 
I still have 5 VA appointments to go to for my MEB, and my MSC advised me that it would be 7-12 months from now until I’m done and separated because of the shutdown.

During this time my command is still having me work full time, despite my disability causing me extreme amounts of pain. I have communicated to them multiple times that the work load is too much, especially now because of the furlough I am picking up the work of our civilians who are out.

My PCM basically told me to suck it up, I have to work until I’m out and she can’t do anything for me. My first sergeant was sympathetic but didn’t have any answers. My Peblo told me he would do the best he can on his end to process my paperwork quickly when it gets back to him but can’t help other than that. My MSC advised me that for army members you get put into a whole new command while you are med boarding so you don’t have to work. I’m Air Force and this doesn’t seem to be a thing. everyone I’ve spoke to seems on the same page of, work until you’re done, even if your condition is worsening because of it.

Does this seem right?? Can anyone give advise what to do!? I’m at my wits end.
 
soundrunner said:
I still have 5 VA appointments to go to for my MEB, and my MSC advised me that it would be 7-12 months from now until I’m done and separated because of the shutdown.

During this time my command is still having me work full time, despite my disability causing me extreme amounts of pain. I have communicated to them multiple times that the work load is too much, especially now because of the furlough I am picking up the work of our civilians who are out.

My PCM basically told me to suck it up, I have to work until I’m out and she can’t do anything for me. My first sergeant was sympathetic but didn’t have any answers. My Peblo told me he would do the best he can on his end to process my paperwork quickly when it gets back to him but can’t help other than that. My MSC advised me that for army members you get put into a whole new command while you are med boarding so you don’t have to work. I’m Air Force and this doesn’t seem to be a thing. everyone I’ve spoke to seems on the same page of, work until you’re done, even if your condition is worsening because of it.

Does this seem right?? Can anyone give advise what to do!? I’m at my wits end.
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Is your command abiding by your profile restrictions? if so, they can do what they like. Your PCM can change/add additional restrictions on your profile but it looks like they don't want to do that. your command can lessen the load if they want to but it looks like they don't. Not much you can do then. I would recommend taking some leave if possible to give you some time to recover. Even just a day off every other week would probably help. As you know, your command doesn't have to approve leave so it would be best to get on their good side and try to show them you are doing your best and will take leave every so often to ensure you can be effective when you are working.
 
soundrunner said:
I still have 5 VA appointments to go to for my MEB, and my MSC advised me that it would be 7-12 months from now until I’m done and separated because of the shutdown.

During this time my command is still having me work full time, despite my disability causing me extreme amounts of pain. I have communicated to them multiple times that the work load is too much, especially now because of the furlough I am picking up the work of our civilians who are out.

My PCM basically told me to suck it up, I have to work until I’m out and she can’t do anything for me. My first sergeant was sympathetic but didn’t have any answers. My Peblo told me he would do the best he can on his end to process my paperwork quickly when it gets back to him but can’t help other than that. My MSC advised me that for army members you get put into a whole new command while you are med boarding so you don’t have to work. I’m Air Force and this doesn’t seem to be a thing. everyone I’ve spoke to seems on the same page of, work until you’re done, even if your condition is worsening because of it.

Does this seem right?? Can anyone give advise what to do!? I’m at my wits end.
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Man, I'm in the same situation. Best I can advise is if you cannot solve this at the lowest level possible, ie, team lead or plt sgt is keep going to medical and stack evidence. It may suck now, but it will help in the future for sure.
Hate to say, but they got us in shackles until the day we get a dd-214
 
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