Teachers working without pay in US military schools during shutdown received debt letters
Teachers at US military schools abroad, working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown, received erroneous debt letters claiming they were overpaid, with amounts varying from several hundred to over $1,000. The Department of Defense Education Agency (DoDEA) acknowledged these letters were sent due to a coding error linked to the shutdown and assured employees that the issue would be rectified once the government is funded. However, teachers expressed frustration over the lack of clarity and urgency regarding the resolution process, compounding the stress of their unpaid work. The morale among Defense Department civilians is reportedly declining, as many consider leaving their positions amidst these challenges. The situation highlights persistent issues within the military's pay system, raising concerns about future employee retention and support.
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Letters sent by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) stated that affected teachers have 70 days to repay the alleged overpayments.
DoDEA operates 161 schools serving more than 60,000 students, employing over 11,000 full-time personnel as of 2022.
The coding error was attributed to a mandatory 'Leave Without Pay' designation during the government shut down, which triggered automatic adjustments in payroll.
Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, the director of DoDEA, communicated that the payroll system's age and regulatory requirements hinder the immediate resolution of these debt issues.
Employees have been reassured that they do not need to make payments on the debt letters currently, but full reconciliation may take several pay periods.
The ongoing shutdown began on October 1, and active military members continue to receive pay, unlike civilian employees in DoDEA.
Many employees voiced their lack of trust in the DoDEA's ability to resolve these issues swiftly, leading to increased stress and low morale.