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.


Breaking Video: Ilhan Omar Physically Attacked During Town Hall
Trump launches midterm push in Iowa, warns losses would derail agenda: ‘We gotta win’
Virginia judge voids redistricting push, rules lawmakers overstepped authority
Jimmy Kimmel, Whose Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Got Him Suspended, Turns on the Tears for Alex Pretti
Trump returns to his economic script at Iowa rally amid Minneapolis uproar
Young brothers die after trying desperately to help each other in icy pond during winter storm: report
Tech tycoon husband arrested after wife found dead below mountain highway in wealthy enclave
Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski call for Noem’s ouster as GOP frustrations grow
New York, California projected to lose 6 House seats to red states after 2030, census analysis shows
GOP split over whether Trump’s de-escalation efforts in Minnesota is a ‘retreat’
US deports 3 former Iranian Guard members amid rising tensions with Tehran
What Does It Say About Tim Walz That He Compared ICE to Nazis and Then Offered to Work with Them a Day Later?
‘I Lost Touch With Reality’: Kanye West Takes Out Full-Page WSJ Ad to Ask for ‘Forgiveness’
Trump says US will ‘no longer help’ Iraq if Nouri al Maliki returns to power
Well-known Texas attorney’s wife among victims of deadly private jet crash in Maine

See also  Newsom posts himself as ‘Sparkle Beach’ Ken Barbie doll in clap back at Bessent

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  What will Trump’s Greenland obsession mean for the future of NATO?


Breaking Video: Ilhan Omar Physically Attacked During Town Hall
Trump launches midterm push in Iowa, warns losses would derail agenda: ‘We gotta win’
Virginia judge voids redistricting push, rules lawmakers overstepped authority
Jimmy Kimmel, Whose Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Got Him Suspended, Turns on the Tears for Alex Pretti
Trump returns to his economic script at Iowa rally amid Minneapolis uproar
Young brothers die after trying desperately to help each other in icy pond during winter storm: report
Tech tycoon husband arrested after wife found dead below mountain highway in wealthy enclave
Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski call for Noem’s ouster as GOP frustrations grow
New York, California projected to lose 6 House seats to red states after 2030, census analysis shows
GOP split over whether Trump’s de-escalation efforts in Minnesota is a ‘retreat’
US deports 3 former Iranian Guard members amid rising tensions with Tehran
What Does It Say About Tim Walz That He Compared ICE to Nazis and Then Offered to Work with Them a Day Later?
‘I Lost Touch With Reality’: Kanye West Takes Out Full-Page WSJ Ad to Ask for ‘Forgiveness’
Trump says US will ‘no longer help’ Iraq if Nouri al Maliki returns to power
Well-known Texas attorney’s wife among victims of deadly private jet crash in Maine

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  Trump brags about secret weapon that was key to Maduro capture: ‘The discombobulator’

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