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Shutdown will affect Cannon

CMI staff

The government shutdown will send Cannon Air Force Base’s civilian employees on furlough, but military personnel will continue to carry out assigned duties, according to Marcelo Calero of Cannon public affairs.

On Monday Calero said, “If an agreement is not reached, our highly-valued workforce of more than 400 civilians would be furloughed as a result of a government shutdown starting Tuesday.”

“The absence of appropriations will be extremely disruptive to the Air Force,” Calero said. “Functions essential to national security and public safety will continue at Cannon Air Force Base where we have more than 4,800 active duty personnel.”

The Air Force is working with the office of the Secretary of Defense to address the issue and minimize negative impacts, according to Calero.

A bill was approved Monday by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama that would ensure military personnel would be paid. Without the bill, military personnel would have continued to work, and would be paid for their time worked when the shutdown is ended.