News Opinons Politics

DOD Bans All Domestic Travel For Personnel and Families Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Pentagon officials late Friday announced a total domestic travel ban for all troops, civilian personnel and their families until May 11 in an effort to limit their potential exposure to the coronavirus.

In addition, troops will be granted “only authorized local leave” for the duration of the travel restrictions, limiting their ability to visit family and friends in far away states.

“The continuing spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) necessitates immediate implementation of travel restrictions for domestic Department of Defense travel,” the memo announcing the new travel rules stated.


“These restrictions are necessary to preserve force readiness, limit the continuing spread of the virus, and preserve the health and welfare of service members, DOD civilian employees, their families and the local communities where in which we live.”

The travel ban goes into effect Monday, March 16.


My night with Kamala: Harris’s ‘I told you so’ tour comes to Richmond
Judge orders man accused of spraying Ilhan Omar held before trial, possibly in solitary confinement
AI giant’s lobbyist spending exploded as it clashed with Trump administration
California parents who decapitated 2 children, forced other kids to see bodies learn sentence
Florida GOP candidate launches Tinder account to campaign to young female voters
Billie Eilish’s ‘Stolen Land’ Grammy Lecture Hilariously Backfires – Tribe That Claims Land Under Her Mansion Calls Her Out
Mandelson resigns from House of Lords as Keir Starmer hopes to stop Epstein scandal from engulfing him
FLASHBACK: 2024’s immigration ground zero in spotlight again as judge’s 11th hour ruling sparks outrage
Police Sources Detail Grim Findings in the House of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
Noem responds to Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish bashing ICE at Grammys: ‘I wish they knew’
Top teachers union under fire as lawmakers push to strip union of unique federal charter: ‘Lost their way’
‘Very Frustrating’: House Democrats Disgruntled with Senate Democrats Over Spending Package
WATCH: CNN’s Scott Jennings Hits Singer Billie Eilish With Reality Check Following Her Comments About ICE And ‘Stolen Land’
Timeline: NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappears as sheriff says she may have been ‘abducted’
Rhode Island activist slams adult-run nonprofit that promoted ‘student-led’ anti-ICE school walkout

See also  AI giant’s lobbyist spending exploded as it clashed with Trump administration

It comes just days after Pentagon officials announced severe restrictions on overseas travel for all defense employees, uniformed and civilians. The new rules cover Permanent Change of Station moves and Temporary Duty travel.

“All DOD military personnel will stop movement while this memorandum is in effect,” Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist wrote in the announcement.

Exceptions to the travel stoppage will be made for patients and medical providers, as well as their families. Individuals who have already begun travel will be allowed to complete their trips in coming days. Troops approaching retirement or separation are exempt.

But officials warned that those exceptions will “limited in number” and must be approved by senior military leaders, including the combatant commanders and service secretaries.

Defense Department hiring practices will also be impacted. “Until the domestic travel restrictions prescribed above are lifted, DOD components may only onboard civilian employees within the local commuting area.”

Earlier on Friday, President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency, allowing his administration to tap into up to $50 billion in federal resources for public health response efforts.

“I’m urging every state to set up emergency operation centers effective immediately,” he said in his second national address on the issue this week. “I’m also asking every hospital in this country to activate its emergency preparedness plan so that they can meet the needs of Americans everywhere.”

See also  Judge dismisses DOJ judicial misconduct complaint against James Boasberg


My night with Kamala: Harris’s ‘I told you so’ tour comes to Richmond
Judge orders man accused of spraying Ilhan Omar held before trial, possibly in solitary confinement
AI giant’s lobbyist spending exploded as it clashed with Trump administration
California parents who decapitated 2 children, forced other kids to see bodies learn sentence
Florida GOP candidate launches Tinder account to campaign to young female voters
Billie Eilish’s ‘Stolen Land’ Grammy Lecture Hilariously Backfires – Tribe That Claims Land Under Her Mansion Calls Her Out
Mandelson resigns from House of Lords as Keir Starmer hopes to stop Epstein scandal from engulfing him
FLASHBACK: 2024’s immigration ground zero in spotlight again as judge’s 11th hour ruling sparks outrage
Police Sources Detail Grim Findings in the House of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
Noem responds to Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish bashing ICE at Grammys: ‘I wish they knew’
Top teachers union under fire as lawmakers push to strip union of unique federal charter: ‘Lost their way’
‘Very Frustrating’: House Democrats Disgruntled with Senate Democrats Over Spending Package
WATCH: CNN’s Scott Jennings Hits Singer Billie Eilish With Reality Check Following Her Comments About ICE And ‘Stolen Land’
Timeline: NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappears as sheriff says she may have been ‘abducted’
Rhode Island activist slams adult-run nonprofit that promoted ‘student-led’ anti-ICE school walkout

More than 1,600 cases and 40 deaths in America have been attributed to the virus so far. Numerous public schools systems announced in recent days they will shut down for several weeks, and professional sports leagues and major entertainment venues like New York’s Broadway district have stopped all operations for the near future.

See also  AI giant’s lobbyist spending exploded as it clashed with Trump administration

In his memo, Norquist warned that additional preventive measures could be announced in coming days.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter