The federal government shutdown has affected at least one local event.
Dyess Air Force Base officials were set to remember the tenth anniversary of the TORQUE-62 crash where four Dyess airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing, among others, died in their C-130J shortly after takeoff from an airfield in Afghanistan on Oct. 2, 2015.
Thursday’s memorial will still take place at Dyess Memorial Park with U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington scheduled to give remarks.
But the 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office put out a release Wednesday afternoon saying they would not be able to “facilitate planned media engagements” for the memorial “in accordance with federal guidelines during a lapse in appropriations.”
Brett Hedges, Arrington’s communications director, said the lawmaker will be there for the 1 p.m. ceremony, which is still scheduled to go on Thursday.
Repeated telephone calls to the 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office resulted in an automated message stating the call could not be completed as dialed.
A bright red banner greets visitors to the official Dyess website, advising that due to the shutdown, the page is no longer being updated. It advises visiting the Air Force’s “Lapse in Appropriations 2025” webpage for information.
Found there are Air Force policy updates, as well as furlough guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Also present is a link to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding unemployment compensation for federal employees.
Veterans concerned over a disruption in benefits should know that 97 percent of services should remain available, according to Disabled American Veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a shutdown contingency site for vets as well.
VA medical centers and clinics will continue to be open with no interruption in services, according to the VA. Benefits will also continue to be sent out, and burials at VA national cemeteries will take place. The VA’s primary call center at 1-800-MyVA411 and the Veterans Crisis Line — dial 988 and press 1 — will remain open 24/7.
The VA Benefit Hotline at 1-800-827-1000 will be available 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services and caregiver support will also continue.
The VA has produced a Veterans Field Guide to the shutdown with this and more information.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Here’s how the government shutdown is impacting Dyess Air Force Base, veterans
Reporting by Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
