Government Shutdown Impact Information
Learn how the government shutdown is affecting services and facilities at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Help available for Airmen, Guardians, civilians to mitigate lapse in appropriations impact
As a result of the government shutdown, the following departments at the U.S. Air Force Academy will be affected:
HEADQUARTERS
Visitor Center
- Visitor Center will not be staffed and the movie won’t be showing. However, visitors can still walk through exhibits and take a map to embark on a self-guided tour.
- The Fanatics team store remains open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Planetarium
- Planetarium will cancel all public shows.
- Shows for scheduled STEM visits from schools and centers will continue as planned.
External Platforms/Communications
- Social media and website will only be updated in the event of an emergency.
- KAFA radio will stream music; no cadet shows
- Alexa App will not be updated.
Admissions
- The USAFA Admissions Applicant portal is experiencing an outage. We apologize for any inconvenience.
- Please visit the admissions website for the most up to date information.
Staff Judge Advocate
- Legal Assistance appointments and walk-in notary services are limited to active duty members who are deploying personnel and for emergencies.
10 AIR BASE WING
Security and safety
- Defenders and firefighters are exempted; they are on post and on shifts under normal schedules.
- Ambulance services are contracted and remain on shift and on site.
Medical
- Military personnel are on regular shifts, some key civilian providers and practitioners are exempted and will continue seeing patients and taking appointments.
- There will be impacts to provider and appointment accessibility.
- If possible, people will be referred to the Front Range provider network.
- Pharmacy operations service speeds will be degraded.
Dining facilities
- High Country Inn and Mitchell Hall will operate as normal.
Force Support and MWR Programs
- Child Development Centers operate as normal
- Community Center Library is CLOSED
- Community Center Fitness Center OPEN via 24 hours access card only (Pool & Sauna CLOSED)
- MPF remains open for processing identification cards, DEERS updates, etc. during normal operating hours (Mon-Fri, 8 am – 4:30 pm). Walk ins only. Active Duty & DoD Civilians have priority. Delayed wait time expected.
- Most MWR programs remain open
- Mortuary Affairs is exempted, and the Casualty Assistance Representative can be recalled in an emergent situation
- Airman & Family Readiness Center is open (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Appointments only – Casualty/SBP, Readiness, Financial Counseling, MFLC, VA Advisor. All other programs paused.
- Arnold Hall will open at 7 a.m. and close at Taps (regular opening hours) but no theater support will be available.
- Food court operates as normal (e.g. Subway, Polaris Perk, Dominoes, etc.)
- Cadet Media operates as normal
- Cadet Barber Shops operate as normal
- Cadet dorm management operates as normal
- Tailor shop, cadet issue, cadet laundry, cadet laundry service and cadet gym laundry are closed through the conclusion of the furlough.
LOGISTICS (No military personnel assigned)
- Impacted and service degraded
- Personnel supporting deployers are exempted and will be supporting readiness & deployment functions
- Some services are contracted and will operate as normal
CONTRACTING (No military personnel assigned)
- Limited excepted contracting personnel are available to support excepted mission activities
- Non-excepted contracts that are funded prior to expiration of appropriations and have trained Government oversight may continue performance during the shutdown
- No new contracts, contract extensions, option exercises, or new task or delivery orders may be executed, unless the contract action is supporting an “excepted” activity
- Stop work order may be issued to contractor if there is no trained Government personnel (COR) to perform oversight or access to worksite is restricted due to furlough
EXCHANGE & COMMISSARY
- All Exchange facilities are operating normal hours.
- Commissaries (DECA) are open and operating at normal hours.
DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION PROGRAM / URINALYSIS TESTING
- Operates normally
CHAPLAINCY
- Minimal impacts: services and support functions will operate as normal
CIVIL ENGINEER
- Work order process will operate as normal
- Engineering projects will operate as normal
- Environmental programs will operate as normal
- Emergency Management are exempted and will operate as normal
DEAN OF FACULTY:
Teaching
- Classes will continue with our remaining military faculty. They will be teaching their own courses as well as some courses from furloughed civilian faculty. However, this is not sustainable if the government shutdown extends beyond one week.
- Laboratory-based education in many subjects will pause during this time.
- Mid-semester academic progress reports for cadets will be suspended.
Library
- Library hours will be significantly curtailed
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Physical Education Classes
- Will continue as scheduled with military instructors teaching increased number of classes.
Fitness and Testing
- Will pause during the government shutdown
Intramurals
- Will pause during the government shutdown
Intercollegiate Competitions
- All Air Force Academy home and away intercollegiate athletic events will continue.
- Please refer to https://goairforcefalcons.com/ for more information on Air Force Athletics
Facilities
- Athletic Facilities will remain open for cadet use only.
- Facility maintenance and equipment repair are contract and will remain open.