NAS JRB FORT WORTH, Texas — The Department of the Air Force is preparing for the possibility of a lapse in appropriations at the start of Fiscal Year 2026.
“While we are hopeful for the timely passage of the FY26 Appropriations Bill to provide stable and predictable funding, it's important to understand the potential impacts should the Department of the Air Force operate under a lapse of appropriation in FY26,” the Department said. “A lapse in appropriation, depending on its length, can significantly impact our readiness, modernization efforts, and overall ability to maintain technological superiority.”
Here is what 10th Air Force Airmen and civilians—AGR, Traditional Reservists (TR), and Air Reserve Technicians (ART)—need to know, and where to find help.
Who works, who doesn’t:
• Active Guard Reserve (AGR): AGR members continue to report for duty and carry out assigned tasks that may legally continue during a lapse. Pay for work performed after Sept. 30, 2025, will be delayed until Congress enacts an appropriation, a continuing resolution (CR), or separate pay authority.
Guidance: OPM Shutdown & Furlough Guidance:
• Traditional Reservists (TR): Inactive duty training (IDT) that obligates new funds will pause unless specifically tied to an excepted mission. Units will provide notification if any training is excepted and authorized to proceed.
• Air Reserve Technicians (ART)
• Civilian status: ARTs paid with annual appropriations will be furloughed unless excepted to support safety of life or national security functions.
• Funded activities: ARTs paid via Defense Working Capital Fund (DWCF), multi-year, or no-year funds may continue to work and be paid while funds remain available.
• Retroactive pay: When an appropriation/CR is signed, retroactive pay will be issued for furlough hours and unpaid hours worked, as soon as feasible.
Details: OPM Overview & FAQs:
• Civilian employees (non-ART): Furloughed employees will report on their first scheduled duty day after the lapse only to complete orderly shutdown tasks, then depart on furlough status unless excepted.
• Retirees/annuitants: No change. These payments are not made from annual appropriations and continue as scheduled.
Pay timing you can expect:
• Military pay: October end-of-month pay will be delayed if a CR, appropriation, or Pay Our Troops Act is not passed by Sept. 30, 2025.
• Reserve drill pay: DFAS adjusted Reserve interim weekly drill pay to cut off Sept. 30, 2025, to avoid a delay.
• Civilians: Hours worked Sept. 21–30 are paid on the normal Oct. 10, 2025 payday. Retroactive pay will be issued after a CR/appropriation is signed. Resources: AFPC Total Force Service Center | OMB Agency Contingency Plans
Where to get help—financial, medical, and basic needs:
Start with your chain of command: If you experience financial hardship, notify your supervisor, first sergeant and commander. They can help you connect with the resources below. Compensation & counseling
• Military OneSource — Economic Security Toolkit: Central hub for allowances, benefits, budgeting tools, and updates during funding lapses.
Access: Military OneSource Toolkit (search “Economic Security Toolkit”)
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Free, confidential counseling for work, stress, and financial challenges. Check local installation EAP details via your civilian personnel office.
• Financial counseling at Military & Family Readiness Centers (M&FRC): Free sessions to build budgets, prioritize bills, and plan short-term cashflow. Ask your unit or installation M&FRC for walk-in hours.
Emergency aid & short-term relief:
• Air Force Aid Society (AFAS): Emergency help for basic living expenses (food, rent/mortgage, utilities), vehicle costs, and child care. Apply through your local Military & Family Readiness Center. Info: afas.org • American Red Cross: If you are not near an aid organization, Red Cross can coordinate financial assistance referrals with service relief societies. Start: redcross.org
• Banks & credit unions: Some institutions have historically offered pay advances or short-term relief during shutdowns. Contact your bank to ask about options. (Examples from prior lapses include USAA, Navy Federal, and Marine Federal; confirm current policies directly with your provider.)
Unemployment (for furloughed civilians)
• State unemployment benefits: Furloughed federal employees may apply with the state where they work. If you later receive retroactive pay, you may need to repay unemployment per state law. References: OPM furlough guidance | U.S. Department of Labor UCFE: dol.gov
Health care:
• TRICARE: Continues during a lapse. Private-sector care and most services at military hospitals/clinics are expected to remain largely unaffected; some elective procedures may be deferred at MTFs if staffing is limited. Updates: tricare.mil
Food security:
• SNAP & related programs: First sergeants and M&FRCs can connect eligible families to USDA SNAP, the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) (for qualifying households under 200% of the federal poverty level), and Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance. Learn more: USDA SNAP | Basic Needs Allowance overview
Commissaries & on-base services:
• Commissaries/NAF services: Operations may vary by installation during a lapse. Check your local installation website and Defense Commissary Agency announcements for hours and status. DeCA updates: commissaries.com
Travel, training, and PCS (snapshot):
• TDY/IDT: Most non-excepted TDY and non-essential training will be canceled or ended early as part of orderly shutdown operations.
• PCS: Moves already in progress generally continue. New moves are limited to excepted categories (e.g., to an excepted billet).
• Education: Mission-essential training continues; schedules at Air University and other schools may adjust if civilian instructors are furloughed.
Details: See your unit commander and DTS admins for local instructions; monitor the OMB Contingency Plans page for department-level updates.
What you can do now:
Stay informed via your unit: Watch for official emails/Teams messages with your status (excepted/furlough) and any schedule changes.
Map your budget: List fixed bills and due dates; contact creditors proactively. OPM provides sample letters you can adapt when requesting temporary hardship flexibility.
Know your benefits: Review TRICARE coverage, check eligibility for BNA, and talk with M&FRC financial counselors.
If furloughed: Follow your supervisor’s instructions for orderly shutdown. Do not perform work while furloughed (including checking work email) unless officially recalled.
Quick links (bookmark):
• OMB Agency Contingency Plans: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/agency-contingency-plans/
• Contingency Plan Guidance (DoD):
• AFPC Total Force Service Center:
http://www.afpc.af.mil/
• OPM Furlough Guidance & FAQs:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/
• OPM Special Instructions (2025):
• TRICARE:
• Air Force Aid Society:
https://afas.org
• American Red Cross (Service to the Armed Forces): https://www.redcross.org
• USDA SNAP:
Bottom line: 10th Air Force will continue to execute excepted missions and remain ready. If you anticipate hardship, loop in your supervisor and first sergeant early, and use the resources above to bridge the gap until Congress enacts funding.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2025 15:32 |
| Story ID: | 549749 |
| Location: | FORT WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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