Contracted services that were paid for before the change of the FY will remain in place. Those services are already bought and paid for, and can be for multiple years (typically 3) depending upon the terms of the contract. So FSS services in this case are not normally affected. Unfortunately for my organization, our contracts were to renew on 1 Oct (just bad timing). Lacking the spending authorization they could not, so all my contract employee's were told by the vendor to stay home. We were able to apply for an excepted status on one of the contracts and it was approved, so essentially the Gov't issues an IOU to the vendor, and our folks come to work. That covers half of them. The other contracts we could not get excepted.
For Government folks, "excepted" employee's, those designated as critical to particular missions or functions (war effort, public safety, etc....) remain on the job and are not furloughed. They may not take leave during this time period. At question, and the answer depends on which Federal Department you work for, is when you will get paid. You will be paid....it is unlawful to do volunteer work or involuntary servitude for the Federal Government (remember that slavery thing). So, by implication you will be re-imbursed for your work, and you will continue to accrue normal benefits...at question is when you will bet paid.
All DOD employee's in an excepted status (and I am one) will be paid on time....that was part of the spending authorization already signed into law.
However I can't claim sick leave or any other type of leave. I must enter myself into furlough status for that time period.
What I'm watching is the upcoming Columbus Holiday. It's normally a paid Federal Holiday, however we cannot take it. We must either work, or place ourselves on furlough.
We are finding that there are a lot of little things that hamper us. No fuel is available for Govt' vehicles (HMMWV's, Semi's, Generators) because there's no one to draw it from (GS employee on furlough). Certain orders cannot be processed (admin personnel on furlough). No one can travel (we had a major upgrade to a comm site scheduled--has to be put off). As time goes on these little things will start to build up, and likely the FAA is going to start seeing the same thing.
However, we are not experienceing the end of the world. I would far rather bite the bullet now and get a decent legislative compromise that will hold for a while rather than the month to month stuff. More than anything uncertainty affects our operations and ultimately costs a lot more.
Sorry, think I got away from the aviation theme for "Newshawks", but you will note I did mention the FAA...perhaps that will shield me from admin wrath. Well, maybe not.:mix-smi:
One the many great things about this hobby. Enter the virtual world in FSX, there is no 'shutdown', no politics, no FAA, no rules, no wars, no drama...just us and our airplane. I find it can be quite therapeutic actually. :mixedsmi: