The Air Force at Navy and Army at Boston College football games are in jeopardy because of the government shutdown. With travel for all intercollegiate athletics suspended, the two games scheduled for Saturday face cancellation.
After the government shutdown put 800,000 federal workers on furlough, collegiate athletes at the Air Force, Navy and Army academies appear to be next casualties of the impasse. The Department of Defense announced on Tuesday that travel for all the schools' athletic teams is suspended, ESPN reports.
The next step would be to cancel the games. Pentagon lawyers are examining whether the games, scheduled for Oct. 5, are funded by congressionally appropriated funds. A decision for the Air Force at Navy game is expected to be made by noon ET on Thursday.
Boston College is keeping in contact with Army to determine as quickly as possible whether Saturday's game will continue as scheduled.
"We have been in close communication with Army athletics officials regarding the potential impact of the government shutdown on this Saturday's football game," Boston College athletic director Brad Bates said in a statement, via ESPN. "Obviously our intention is to exhaust all possibilities to play the game and we will communicate the information promptly as soon as we have resolution."
Air Force Falcons officials are working to reschedule away games with opponents should the government stalemate remain unresolved.
"Academy officials are working with Mountain West Conference officials, those teams the Falcons were scheduled to play and officials at The Department of the Air Force to make up as many games as possible," Air Force associate athletics director Tony Garnhart said in an email, according to CBS 9.
If it's determined Air Force, Navy and Army receive congressionally appropriated funds, the remainder of the season for the academies would be at risk for however long Congress refuses to fund the government.
