No End In Sight. SASC canceled its Oct. 8 hearing to discuss the impact of sequestration on the services, as the government shutdown drags on. HASC continued with its work during the first few days of the shutdown, holding a hearing on how sequestration is affecting the Army and Marine Corps’ retrograde and reset from Afghanistan. A HASC staffer says that the committee hopes to continue with business as usual during the shutdown, pending the availability of witnesses scheduled to testify, though many other committees have been more liberal about canceling hearings due to unpredictable vote schedules related to the shutdown. A further bad omen that the shutdown could continue for a while, HASC scheduled a hearing for Oct. 10 to discuss the Defense Department’s implementation of the Pay Our Military Act, a moot point if the government were reopened.

Support To Shield Military. Congress worked furiously all week to shield the military from harm during the federal government shutdown. On Sept. 30, the president signed the Pay Our Military Act to ensure that personnel in the Defense Department and in the Coast Guard who work during the shutdown get paid on time. But when DoD still went through with furloughing those not directly associated with warfighting or base protection efforts, several HASC members launched a letter-writing campaign to the administration. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) says further legislation clarifying the intent to keep all, not some, employees working could be drafted soon. HAC Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) introduced the Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act on Oct. 2 to allow guard and reserve training to continue during the shutdown. The measure passed in the House the following day.

HASC Staff Changes. HASC general counsel and deputy staff director Roger Zakheim is leaving the committee to work in private industry at law firm Covington & Burling. Beginning next month, he will work in the firm’s global public policy and government affairs and defense, homeland, and national security practices, according to a statement from the law firm. HASC Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) released a statement on the staff change, adding that HASC policy director Jenness Simler will take over as deputy staff director and deputy general counsel Catherine McElroy will step in as general counsel. Former staffer Kari Bingen will return to the committee to serve as policy director.