A Shopping Frenzy Amid the Government Shutdown

The reaction to the government shutdown sparked a reaction to shop at Fort Bragg today. For some, well informed patrons stormed the two commissaries during its last day of operations as part of the systematic closure process to account for unsold products and to secure the facilities.

"I stocked up on milk and dairy products that will last long, as well as meat," said one military retiree Beth McRendon, not minding the long lines at the checkout. "We have an extra freezer in the garage, and shopping at the commissary really helps us live within our budget."

The announcement of the commissary's closure spread like wild fire on social media sites Tuesday morning. Personnel were notified by letters on Friday of the impending closure and again on Tuesday morning.

Think the commissary does not save its patrons money? View this comparison last year and decide for yourself.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced on Tuesday that their overseas commissaries would remain open during the shutdown.

"We are acutely aware of the hardships placed on all our customers if we cannot deliver their commissary benefit," said Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA director and CEO. "However, because of their geographic location, our service members and their families overseas have a more critical dependence on commissaries, and we are prepared to continue that support."

During the shutdown, commissary customers should be able to access the DeCA website. However, the social media platforms will not be updated after Oct. 1 until the shutdown is over.