Letterkenny Munitions Center stays open

Update:Congress passed a short-term spending deal Monday afternoon to fund the government through Feb. 8, ending the government shutdown. 

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CHAMBERSBURG -- Letterkenny Munitions Center was operating normally on Monday despite the federal government shutdown.

The munitions center at Letterkenny Army Depot stores, ships and disposes of ammunition and missiles for the Department of Defense.

Letterkenny Army Depot and its tenants, including the munitions center, employ more than 3,100 workers.

"The shutdown had no effect on Letterkenny Army Depot," depot spokeswoman Janet Gardner said on Tuesday. "Normal operation ensured."

According to Defense Department guidance, civilian and military personnel may have to wait for their paychecks, despite reporting for work during the shutdown:

“All military personnel performing active duty will continue in a normal duty status regardless of their affiliation with excepted or non-excepted activities. Military personnel will not be paid until such time as Congress makes appropriated funds available to compensate them for this period of service.

“Civilian personnel who are necessary to carry out or support excepted activities will also continue in normal duty status and also will not be paid until Congress makes appropriated funds available. Civilian employees paid from lapsed appropriations and who are not necessary to carry out or support excepted activities will be furloughed, i.e., placed in a non-work, non-pay status.”

Edward E. Averill, deputy to the commander at Letterkenny Munitions Center, said: "Letterkenny Munitions Center operates on Army Working Capital Fund, and AWCF employees are not currently impacted by the government shutdown. The government shutdown applies to agencies that function with annually appropriated funds.  AWCF operations are funded by a revolving funds account.  As long as funds exist within the account, AWCF activities will continue to function."

The Department of Veterans Affairs also will not affected as much as some federal agencies, Stars and Stripes reported. The VA, protected in 2009 from government shutdowns, gets one-year advance from Congress. “The VA health care system, including more than 160 hospitals and hundreds of community-based outpatient clinics, would remain fully operational. Veterans eligible for VA pay would still receive their checks, and veterans’ cemeteries would continue burial services.”

Jim Hook, 717-262-4759