JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The Defense Commissary Agency recently announced plans to close commissaries at most military installations on Mondays due to the furlough of federal employees - yet another side effect of the sequester.
The Joint Base Andrews Commissary will be one of the effected stores, and beginning July 8, will be closed on Mondays for the duration of the furlough. DeCA officials said the furlough situation is "fluid," and the closures are subject to change, but are expected to remain in effect until Sept. 30.
"We know that any disruption in commissary operations will impact our patrons," Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA's director and CEO, said in a press release posted on the DeCA website. "Also, we understand the tremendous burden this places on our employees, who, when furloughed, will lose 20 percent of their pay."
According to the news release, DeCA determined that closing the stores for 11 consecutive Mondays was the best way to satisfy the furlough mandate and minimize negative impacts for shoppers, employees and companies who supply the stores.
DeCA operates 247 commissaries with more than 16,000 employees operating in 13 countries and two U.S. territories. Furloughs will impact all of DeCA's more than 14,000 U.S. civilian employees.
For information about the Commissary at Andrews, visit their website:
https://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCNEK
Kevin L. Robinson, DeCA public affairs specialist, contributed to this story.