While the Obama administration and Capitol Hill lawmakers are locked in the impasse that shut the federal government down Oct. 1, the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments continue to perform their missions without most of their civilian workers. Once the deadlock is resolved, the situation would change rapidly. In the meantime, here are some implications:
* The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will continue to pay active, reserve, and National Guard service members and certain civilian employees. Pay for most civilians stopped as of Sept. 30.
* Retirees and annuitants will continue to receive their pay.
* Defense contractors will be paid as long as the Defense Department Working Capital Fund has enough money to meet "normal operations," according to DFAS.
* The processing of bonus payments, and approval of new bonuses, could be limited, but bonus payment remains authorized.
* Tuition assistance and virtually all counseling and education services have ceased. College courses taught on base will continue.
* Recruiting and in-processing of new recruits will continue, but no contracts with enlistment bonuses can take effect.
* Advancements and promotions, and testing for promotions, have ceased.
* Stateside commissaries are closed. Exchanges and overseas commissaries are open. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) activities are, by and large, closed.
* TRICARE beneficiaries still can receive medical treatment through private-sector providers. The agency will not be able to process travel claims under TRICARE Prime or Combat-Related Specialty Care. Beneficiaries still should file their travel claims, with the understanding that they will not be resolved until the impasse ends.
* VA hospitals are running "normally, or close to normal," the agency said.
* VA had enough money to ensure that disability, pension, and GI Bill benefits can be paid for about two or three weeks.
* Processing of benefits claims filed before the shutdown will continue, albeit more slowly than normal. New claims will not be processed. Appeals of disability claims also will not be processed.