MEDIA CONTACT: LTC Thomas Shrader
\nMEDIA ADVISORY: 11-019
\nRELEASE DATE:\u00a0April 7,\u00a02011<\/p>\n
Exchange to Continue Operations Despite Potential Government Shutdown<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is planning to continue operations even if the U.S. Government shuts down.<\/p>\n \u00a0On April 9, the current budget authorization will expire. At that point, the federal government will potentially institute a mandatory shutdown for \u201cnon-essential\u201d personnel.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0While this action impacts the government, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is largely unaffected.\u00a0 The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund instrumentality. This means the majority of its budget does not rely on tax dollars.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWhile the federal government shuts down, business at the Exchange remains largely unchanged.\u00a0 However, some transactions may be delayed, such as the purchase of firearms which require background checks or other federal government actions,\u201d said Col. Virgil Williams, Chief of Staff for the Exchange.<\/p>\n \u00a0As a matter of course, the Department of Defense plans for contingencies. In fact, since 1980, all agencies have had to have a plan in case of a government shutdown, and these plans are updated routinely.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe Exchange will do everything we have to do to continue to support the deployed troops,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n — 30 —<\/p>\n\t