Stateside commissaries to remain open as government shutdown ends

Stateside military commissaries will remain open effective today, with the continuing resolution that ends the government shutdown, said the interim director and CEO of the Defense Commissary Agency.

“For the patrons of our stores where we were preparing to close down, we ask for their patience as product delivery schedules return to normal,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi. “With the end of the shutdown, there will be a short adjustment period as commissaries return to pre-shutdown operating and delivery routines.”

The DeCA announcement comes in the wake of a continuing resolution (CR) passed by Congress and signed by the president Jan. 22, ending the government shutdown that began when the last resolution expired midnight Jan. 19. The latest CR expires Feb. 8.

Overseas commissaries and five remote stateside stores had been designated to remain open: Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport and Fort Irwin in California; Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and Fort Greely in Alaska; and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

Before the Jan. 22 continuing resolution, the remainder of stateside stores were set to close by the end of the business day Jan. 24 as part of the government shutdown. For these stores, the extra days allowed them to reduce their stocks of perishables and properly safeguard equipment and facilities.