Teachers in US Military Schools Working Without Pay Receive Debt Letters Amid Shutdown

Teachers working at U.S. military schools abroad during the ongoing government shutdown were stunned this week to receive debt letters from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), claiming they had been “overpaid” and now owe money back to the government.

The letters, viewed by CNN, informed Defense Department Education Activity (DoDEA) employees that they had 70 days to repay amounts ranging from several hundred to more than a thousand dollars. The news added further anxiety to teachers who have continued working without pay since October 1, when the shutdown began.

On Thursday, DoDEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez informed staff that the letters were sent in error due to a payroll coding glitch caused by the shutdown. She assured employees that once government funding is restored, payroll records will be corrected, and no repayment is required at this time.

“Unfortunately, due to the age of its system and regulatory requirements, DFAS is unable to override these adjustments, and a debt letter is automatically issued,” Schiavino-Narvaez wrote in an internal email. She noted that it could take “several pay periods to fully reconcile and cancel” the debts once normal operations resume.

DoDEA operates 161 schools across U.S. military installations worldwide, serving over 60,000 students with more than 11,000 full-time personnel. While active-duty military members continue to receive pay during the shutdown, civilian educators have been working without compensation for more than a month.

Many affected employees expressed frustration and skepticism that the issue will be resolved quickly, citing years of payroll complications within the military pay system. One teacher told CNN the experience has been “overwhelming,” while another said morale among DoDEA staff “is dropping rapidly” as the shutdown drags on.

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.