The Air Force is restarting activities put on hold by the federal government’s partial shutdown now that it has funding flowing into its coffers once again. All Air Force civilian employees are off furlough and service officials are working to ensure they receive retroactive pay “as quickly as possible,” service spokeswoman Capt. Erika Yepsen told the Daily Report on Oct. 17, the first day after the 16-day shutdown ended. Permanent change-of-station moves have resumed, as of Thursday, and the Air Force is reinstating already-approved military tuition assistance for courses starting on or after Oct. 17, she said. “New applications for courses starting on or after today may be submitted,” too, said Yepsen.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…