What happens to Barksdale Air Force Base in the event of a government shutdown?
Plus — Shreveport crime: Gov. Landry seeks federal help to activate National Guard.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
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What happens to Barksdale Air Force Base in the event of a government shutdown?
With a government shutdown looming at midnight tonight, the Pentagon has released guidance for what will happen to defense organizations and workers if Congress fails to pass a spending bill.
The Air Force “will continue to defend the nation and conduct ongoing military operations,” the guidance said. “It will continue activities funded with any available budgetary resources that have not lapsed, as well as excepted activities such as those necessary for the safety of human life and the protection of property.”
The details:
Active-duty service members must report for duty, even during a shutdown. Paychecks will not be issued during a shutdown; however, in past events, lawmakers have included back pay for troops in legislation that restarts government activities. Backpay is not guaranteed, however.
Some 223,889 DOD civilians are required to report for duty due to the essential nature of their work.
Civilian personnel, including military technicians, who are not necessary to carry out or support excepted activities, are to be furloughed using lapse in appropriations (often referred to as “shutdown”) procedures and guidance provided by the Office of Personnel Management. Only the minimum number of civilian employees necessary to carry out excepted activities will be excepted from furlough. Positions that provide direct support to excepted positions may also be deemed excepted if they are critical to performing the excepted activity. Determinations regarding the status of civilian positions will be made on a position-by-position basis. Whether or not they receive back pay when the government reopens will be up to Congress.
Individuals who are needed to support excepted activities generally should only work on excepted activity work. Once the excepted activity work is completed, the individual should be furloughed using shutdown procedures. If the excepted activity is to be performed intermittently during the day, management should consolidate excepted activities to the maximum extent possible for performance by the fewest number of employees.
DOD’s 182,684 non-appropriated funds employees must report to work. Their income comes from sources such as fees and surcharges, rather than Congressional funding, and is therefore not subject to the shutdown.
A Department of the Air Force spokesperson stated that the department will not issue additional guidance and that the Pentagon directive applies to both the Air Force and the Space Force.
The planning guidance lists more than 50 examples of excepted activities, ranging from military operations to recruiting to operating overseas commissaries and child care centers. It also notes that the list is “not exhaustive, but rather illustrative.”
The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is an official charity for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and answered Frequently Asked Questions in the event of a government shutdown.
Shreveport crime: Gov. Landry seeks federal help to activate National Guard
Gov. Jeff Landry has formally asked the federal government to support a yearlong activation of up to 1,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard, pointing to the Trump administration’s “successful model” of deploying the military in Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.
Landry’s office announced Monday evening that he had sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with his request.
“Louisiana currently faces a convergence of elevated violent crime rates in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans coupled with critical personnel shortages within local law enforcement,” the governor wrote. “These manpower shortages limit their ability to effectively address this public safety threat and consequently, incidents of homicide, carjacking, and gang-related violence, significantly exceed the national average.”
The governor’s letter requests federal assistance through the end of fiscal year 2026, which is September 30 of next year.
Landry’s “proposed mission and scope” for Guard members would be “to deploy throughout the state to urban centers, support law enforcement presence in high-crime areas, provide logistical and communications support, and secure critical infrastructure,” according to his letter.
“All operations will adhere to established rules for use of force and prioritize community outreach, to ensure transparency and public trust,” the governor continued.
Landry’s request comes as members of the Tennessee National Guard are expected to arrive this week in Memphis, Tennessee. Gov. Bill Lee said the military members will not carry weapons or make arrests unless asked by local police, the Tennessee Lookout reported.
“Since taking office, we have made real progress in driving down crime across Louisiana — but the job is far from finished,” Landry said in a statement. “Federal partnerships in our toughest cities have worked, and now, with the support of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are taking the next step by bringing in the National Guard. This mission is about saving lives and protecting families. To the criminals terrorizing our communities: your time is up. Law and order are back in Louisiana.”
In recent weeks, Trump has indicated he would deploy the military to other cities around the U.S., frequently mentioning Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans and most recently Portland, Oregon, where officials have sued to stop the military from being sent there.
The Republican president also authorized the use of California National Guard members and Marines to support federal immigration efforts in Los Angeles, over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Landry has openly supported Trump’s suggestions to deploy troops to Louisiana cities. Earlier this month, the president indicated he was deciding between Chicago and New Orleans.
“Do we go to Chicago? Or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that’s become quite tough, quite bad,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
In his letter, Landry notes previous National Guard deployments to New Orleans, most recently in response to the Jan. 1 terror attack on Bourbon Street. The Trump administration supported extending the Guard’s presence in the city through the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, giving the events high-risk status.
As of last week in Shreveport, the police department reported lower rates of homicides (29%), non-fatal shootings (23%) and armed robberies (17%).
– By Greg Larose/Louisiana Illuminator
Should the troop deployment include Bossier City?
Fundraiser to be held Friday for two BCPD officers injured in the line of duty
The Bossier City Police Department Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 39 will be holding a hamburger
fundraiser cookout this Friday, October 3, 2025, for two Bossier City Police Officers who were shot or injured in the line of duty.
The event will be held in front of the Bossier City Police Department from 11 am to until 1 pm. The money raised will help offset extra medical expenses and everyday living expenses.
“This will be a donation only event, and we would love for everyone to stop by and show your support for these two great men,” the FOP said in a release. “Thank you for your continued prayers for these Officers and the Bossier City Police Department.”
Early voting ends Saturday for Bossier Parish Police Juror District 1 election
Early voting is underway for the District 1 Police Jury election scheduled for October 11. The race is filling the seat of Bob Brotherton, who died in January. Kim Gaspard was temporarily appointed to the seat until the election.
Brent Moreland of Elm Grove and Lynn C. Beaty of Haughton will be on the ballot.
Moreland’s social media says he is an International Representative at IBEW. Moreland qualified as a Republican.
“As your candidate for Bossier Parish Police Jury, District 1, I’m committed to upholding the principles that make our parish and our nation strong — accountability, service, and a fresh start for local leadership.
On his Facebook campaign page, Beaty describes himself as “Christian, conservative, Republican.”
“I have lived and worked in Bossier Parish my entire life and have many friends and family here,” Beaty says in a post. “After graduating from Louisiana Tech in 1975, I started a logging and construction business. Since then, we have completed hundreds of road, utility and drainage projects. This gives me a real world, hands-on insight into all of the projects the Police Jury builds and regulates. I strongly believe in the 2nd Amendment, less taxes and eliminating wasteful spending.”
Early voting continues through Saturday, October 4.
Bossier City events calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
October 2: 49th Annual Red River Revel. October 2nd to 5th, 2025. Festival Plaza, 101 Crockett Street, Shreveport. Over 75 artists, four stages of music and performing arts, and tons of food options.
October 3: Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters at Margaritaville
October 9: Lyle Lovett and his acoustic group at the Strand Theatre.
October 17: Zach Top and his Cold Beer and Country Music tour at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
October 18: Wanda Sykes and her Please and Thank You tour at the Horseshoe Bossier City.
October 24: Styx at the Live Casino & Hotel. 8:00 pm. Tickets start at $59.99. Must be 21+
November 20: ZZ Top at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 23: Joe Bonamassa at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 29: Little River Band, Live! Event Center
December 12: Jiaoying Summers at the Live! Casino and Hotel. Get ready for a night of fearless, dark, and laugh-out-loud comedy from a global sensation with over 1 billion views online! You’ve seen her viral “Uber Karen” sketch and hilarious English name roasts — now catch her live on her “What Specie Are You?” tour!
February 20: Rascal Flatts at the BGA.
Bossier news: Independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage
BossierNow’s mission is to provide independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage of Bossier City and Bossier Parish. We welcome your input, press releases, and news tips at email@bossiernow.com.
