A standing Defense Department memo recently sent to military families and civilian personnel, warning that a “government shutdown” could result in servicemen and contractors alike going without pay. A summary paragraph reads: “During the government shutdown, the Department of Defense will have no legal authority to pay any personnel -- military or civilian -- for the days during which the government is shut down.  The shutdown will not affect payments to retirees and annuitants as those funds come from a retirement trust fund.  Below is the effect the government shutdown will have on active duty military, civilian personnel, retirees and annuitants, and DoD contractors.” This policy has been in effect for at least two years, and was last updated in October of 2013. Although in 2013 Congress passed legislation to ensure military members would receive pay during a government shutdown, that rule has since expired. No changes have been...(Read Full Article)