An Oregon family that just learned their son was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday, will not immediately receive the $100,000 payment that's normally wired to relatives of fallen soldiers.
At a meeting with military leaders over the weekend, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said that as a result of the government shutdown, his agency does not have the legal authority to make death gratuity payments right now.
Lieutenant Commander Nate Christensen is a spokesman for the U.S. military.
"We're keeping a close eye on our survivors who've lost loved ones serving in the Department of Defense," he said.
"We certainly expect that payments will be made once the shutdown ends."
Hagel said the shutdown is also blocking emergency funds for commanders on the ground and curtailing the training of units that will be deployed in the future.
On the Web
http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=16298
Copyright 2013 Oregon Public Broadcasting
