Pentagon names US-Mexico border mission as top priority to continue under shutdown
By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA STARS AND STRIPES •
September 29, 2025
Republican and Democrats remained at an impasse Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, on extending funding to avoid a government shutdown. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON — The Defense Department will prioritize missions to secure the U.S.-Mexico border as well as Middle East operations and Golden Dome missile defense programs if the federal government shuts down this week due to a funding lapse. The department’s priorities were laid out in a planning document released over the weekend outlining what military work will take precedence if Congress fails to agree on a short-term spending measure to keep the government open beyond midnight Tuesday. Without a deal, active-duty troops and reservists on active service will begin working without pay Wednesday, and nearly half of the Pentagon’s civilian workforce could be furloughed, according to the guidance. The plan states that the Defense Department will continue missions deemed “necessary for the safety of human life and the protection of property” and considers efforts to support U.S. southern border and Middle East operations among its “highest priorities.” Other priorities include the Golden Dome, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions, according to the guidance.
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https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-09-29/shutdown-military-border-mission-top-priority-19265223.htmlSource - Stars and Stripes
