WASHINGTON, DC – The federal government shutdown brings uncertainty to the West Virginia National Guard, as service members don’t know when their next paycheck is coming.
Retired West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General Bill Crane is concerned about what that means for guardsmen’s families.
“The first thing I think about is the families behind the soldiers and the airmen in service and the uncertainty that they’re going to have to face about paying bills and whatever,” he said this week on MetroNews Midday.
Senator Jim Justice echoed those sentiments and expressed concern for federal employees affected by the shutdown. He said those are the people really feeling the impact.
“This will pass, but the unfortunate thing about this passing is today, there’s people that are really getting hurt,” he said Wednesday on MetroNews Talkline.
Despite those uncertainties, the work continues even with the government being shut down. Crane said the members of the Guard will continue to show up.
“I know the service members will show up. They’re going to do what’s needed of them. They made a commitment,” he said.
As for how long the shutdown could last, that remains to be seen. Justice was adamant that closing the government could be avoided, but now, he’s unsure when it will reopen.
“Anything is possible. I think this thing is going to have to play its way out just a little bit. A quick resolution may be more difficult than you’d think,” he said.
Crane said with the shutdown ongoing, there still isn’t too much to be concerned about with force readiness. The National Guard continues to drill while the government is shut down, but the problem is members don’t know when they’re going to get paid for that work.
“They allow us to still drill because they consider that essential, so they come and they still do the drills. They just don’t get the paycheck right away.” Crane said.
With concerns looming over what an extended shutdown could mean for federal employees, Crane is hoping for the sake of the National Guard members that a solution is on the way.
“I’m hopeful that they can come together and get a compromise or pass at least a continuing resolution so that we can push this down the road a little farther. We’ve done that many, many times, and unfortunately, we’re kind of used to that in the service,” he said.