This from the Washington National Guard Public Affairs: CAMP MURRAY, WA - The Washington National Guard is taking steps to ensure critical operations dedicated to serving our state and federal mission continue in the event of a funding gap caused by a government shutdown.   

Our citizen-soldiers and airmen are paid, trained and equipped through
federal appropriations.  A funding gap occurs when neither an appropriations
act, or a Continuing Resolution has been enacted.  

In preparation for this scenario, Guard personnel essential to the
war-fight, and the protection of lives and property here in the state are
being identified.  Those full-time employees critical to the execution of
these missions will be exempt.  Non-exempt employees will be furloughed
until federal appropriations allow them to return to work.  Personnel who
are on Additional Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders, and full-time
general schedule federal employees of the Guard will report to work for
their next scheduled work day.  At that time, non-exempt employees will be
furloughed.

Drill weekends for all Washington National Guard units scheduled for this
weekend (April 8-10) have been canceled, and will be re-scheduled at a
future date.  Guard members who performed their drill last weekend will be
paid on time.  Soldiers and Airmen currently conducting their two-week
Annual Training period will end their training on Saturday; Annual Training
will be rescheduled at a later time.  Citizen-soldiers currently attending
certain Army schools may be sent home.  The State Family Programs conference
scheduled April 8-10 in Cle Elum has been abbreviated to April 8-9.  We are
working to contact all of our impacted personnel by the close of business
today in order to give them and their families an accurate assessment of the
situation and how it will affect them.

We currently have approximately 400 citizen-soldiers and airmen on Title X
federal active duty preparing for deployment and serving in locations around
the world.  The pay of these service members will be affected in the same
way that other active duty service members will be impacted.  If this causes
a significant hardship for any of the families of our deployed Guardsmen,
please call our Veterans and Families (J9) Directorate at 1-877-585-5655.

Operations continuing through next week will include the staffing of our
Joint Operations Center, Counter Drug Task Force training with Drug
Enforcement Agency and Military Funeral Honors support to funeral services
of veterans.

State employees of the Washington Military Department will continue to work
per their normal schedules.

Public safety and security through our state and federal mission are the
priority of the Washington National Guard.  Plans and personnel are, and
will be in place to ensure these priorities are met.