Overseas troops will see Sunday NFL games despite government shutdown Defense Department says
Dana White
âDespite the government shutdown  (the department) determined the operational necessity of television and radio broadcasts constitutes them as essential activities â  chief Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White  said. âWe will continue to find solutions to support our troops at home and abroad.â
 Her  announcement followed outcry about overseas U.S. service members not being able to see the two games Sunday afternoon  particularly since officials have said military personnel wonât get paid during the furlough  which started overnight Friday.
 White  described some legal and manpower maneuvering to get the games on air.  She  said two of the eight Armed Forces Network channels -- news and sports -- will remain on  despite the network being run by civilians  who have been furloughed in the shutdown.
âWith minimal manning  we can keep the sports channel up without incurring any additional cost or manpower-complying with shutdown guidance  " White  said in a statement. âThanks to uniform leadership at AFN  our comptroller and legal team.â
 She  said the news channel remains on because the contract has already been paid and the sports channel was turned on because âit doesn't cost any more money or manpower to manage a second channel.â
Still   White  had some sharp words for Congress  whose failure to pass a temporary spending resulted in the shutdown.
âThe shutdown requires us to do a lot of tedious work â  she  said. âCongress needs to pass a budget.â
âDespite the government shutdown  (the department) determined the operational necessity of television and radio broadcasts constitutes them as essential activities â   [TGT] said. âWe will continue to find solutions to support our troops at home and abroad.â
 Her  announcement followed outcry about overseas U.S. service members not being able to see the two games Sunday afternoon  particularly since officials have said military personnel wonât get paid during the furlough  which started overnight Friday.
  [TGT] described some legal and manpower maneuvering to get the games on air.   [TGT]   said two of the eight Armed Forces Network channels -- news and sports -- will remain on  despite the network being run by civilians  who have been furloughed in the shutdown.
âWith minimal manning  we can keep the sports channel up without incurring any additional cost or manpower-complying with shutdown guidance  "  [TGT] said in a statement. âThanks to uniform leadership at AFN  our comptroller and legal team.â
 She  said the news channel remains on because the contract has already been paid and the sports channel was turned on because âit doesn't cost any more money or manpower to manage a second channel.â
Still   White  had some sharp words for Congress  whose failure to pass a temporary spending resulted in the shutdown.
âThe shutdown requires us to do a lot of tedious work â  she  said. âCongress needs to pass a budget.â