The defense contracting community is in a holding pattern because of the uncertainty generated by sequestration and the government shutdown. It’s forcing some tough decisions on the business-planning process for fiscal 2014. David Melcher, chief executive officer and president of Exelis, joined Franicis Rose on Industry Chatter today.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will furlough thousands more employees in the coming weeks if the shutdown drags on. It’s part of a cascading series of effects veterans and the department will endure as the government shutdown drags on.

The Air Force faces a greater risk that it won’t get its financial house in order by the first congressionally-mandated 2014 deadline. By the end of this fiscal year, all of the Defense Department must be able to develop an auditable statement of budgetary resources. Federal News Radio’s executive editor Jason Miller offers details on why the Air Force continues to struggle with financial management.

Still no deal in Congress on the shutdown, but members may be getting close on cyber legislation after a number of years. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu reports Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Community, says he and his committee’s Chair, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), are close to a deal with the House Intelligence Committee on cybersecurity legislation. Francis Rose asked Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, if he agrees with Chambliss’ assessment.

It’s hard to attract new talent at your agency if all you can promise are potential furloughs and massive budget cuts to future projects. When the shutdown ends, you might want to give your agency a marketing makeover.

Defense Department employees are mostly back at work today after the Pay Our Military Act let the Pentagon pay most civilian employees at DoD. FEMA called back some employees to deal with a possible hurricane. But the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is mostly on furlough today after their leftover money from last year ran out. These events are generating a new term for the fluidity “shutdown churn.” Federal News Radio’s Tom Temin says you shouldn’t be surprised.