Kansas Army staff on unpaid leave due to government shutdown

FORT RILEY (KSNT) – A government shutdown has prompted a Kansas Army post to place many of its employees on temporary unpaid leave.

Fort Riley announced in a social media post on Oct. 1 that a lack of federal appropriations has prompted the furlough of many civilian employees at the post. Some services may be limited or temporarily unavailable at this time, with many social media channels, emails and phone services maintained by civilian staff inactive due to this situation.

“The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.”

U.S. Department of War website excerpt

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Normal operations are expected to resume once federal funding is restored. In the meantime, Fort Riley posted a full list of services that are closed due to the shutdown, which includes the following:

• Closed during the government shutdown.
  • DFWWR
    • Whitside North Child Development Center (hourly care).
    • General ACS.
    • Outreach/mobilization.
    • Soldier & Family Assistance Center.
  • DHR
    • Freedom of Information, Records Management/Publications/Personally Identifiable Info (FOIA, LMER, FECA, PII).
    • Military Personnel Division.
  • DPW
    • Housing.
    • Recycling Center.
    • Master Planning Divisions.
    • Work Management Branch.
    • BOID/Engineering Systems Branch.
  • DES
    • Trooper Gate.
    • Merli ACP.
    • Records Section.
    • Trusted Traveler.
    • DES HQ’s.
  • DPTMS
    • Fort Riley Emergency Manager.
    • Garrison Employee Security Clearances.
  • Installation Support Offices.
    • Equal Employment Opportunity.
    • Plans, Analysis and Integration Office.
    • Public Affairs Office.
    • Visual Information.

The government shutdown is also impacting other military facilities in Kansas. McConnell Air Force Base announced that more than 600 of its civilian staff are being furloughed due to the shutdown.

Fort Riley also announced that its Retiree Appreciation Day, scheduled for Oct. 4, is postponed due to the loss of federal funding. For additional information on the impact the lapse of appropriations is having on the U.S. Army, click here.

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