The government shutdown is causing different strains on military service members and their families, in the form of temporarily suspended afterschool programs, to limited radio and television access to American Forces Network (AFN) broadcasting.
Most overseas bases have school systems for military families, all of which fall under the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Similar to schools in the United States, DoDEA schools have a range of afterschool activities including sports and extracurricular clubs like student government, yearbook, and cultural or honor societies.
“DoDEA is deeply committed to ensuring students have access to a meaningful and well-rounded educational experience,” Jessica Tackaberry, DoDEA’s Europe region communications director, told Military.com. “We recognize the importance of athletics and extracurricular activities in fostering teamwork, resilience and community, and we will do everything possible to provide these opportunities.”
All of DoDEA’s afterschool activities intend to provide military children the opportunity to have a normal and robust school experience, given they are living in situations typically far from home and are moving frequently.
Tackaberry said that in line with the Department of War Contingency Plan Guidance, DoDEA schools will remain open for normal school operations during the government shutdown.
DoDEA runs on a typical school schedule from August to June, meaning October hits right in the middle of the fall sports season. Sports games and practices, along with extracurricular activities, have been put on pause.
“Schools will make every effort to reschedule events where possible, when appropriations are restored. Our team continues to monitor the situation closely and assess conditions on a daily basis,” Tackaberry said.
Vicenza High School is a DoDEA school on U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza base, located in northern Italy.
One of the school’s teachers, who was unable to provide their name as DoDEA faculty as they have to go through a chain of command to respond to press, referred Military.com to DoDEA’s official guidance on the lockdown. Their high school is currently following said guidance.
DoDEA’s guidance says that schools will remain in session, and school-level employees are deemed essential so they will continue class instruction per usual.
Limited AFN Broadcasting
Another effect felt by service members and military families stationed overseas is the limited access to broadcasting through the American Forces Network (AFN).
Created in 1942 as a government television and radio broadcast service for U.S. Armed Forces members stationed overseas, this programming is free for all military personnel and broadcasts popular news channels and shows available in the United States.
Instead of relying on government websites, many of which now carry shutdown delay banners, service members and their families often turn to AFN’s public service announcements as accessible sources of information. But with the shutdown, those announcements will air less frequently.
AFN is known for broadcasting public service announcements during commercial breaks, as it is not allowed to run paid commercials because it is a nonprofit, government-run network. These public service announcements include informational segments regarding resource centers for finance, health and schools.
AFN is now limited to three channels–AFN News, AFN Sports and AFN Now–instead of the eight to 10 typically available.
Efforts by Military.com to contact AFN were unsuccessful due to their website being down because of the shutdown.
DoW’s Contingency Plan
In September 2025, the DoW released a contingency plan outlining what activities would be considered “excepted” and “non-excepted”.
Excepted activities include those that are essential to support readiness, while non-excepted are deemed unnecessary in terms of readiness.
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) and Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) activities are examples of excepted activities. The document included the operation of mess halls, physical training, and childcare activities “required for readiness.”
Conversely, community and public outreach programs are considered non-excepted. “Military personnel may be assigned to carry out or support non-excepted MWR activities,” according to guidelines.
Tackaberry said school communities will remain informed as the situation prolongs.
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