If you’re a fed, chances are you’re getting a skimpy paycheck today. But at least you know Congress may vote to pay your entire salary retroactively once the shutdown ends. It’s not that way for federal contractors, especially the smaller ones. The shutdown is forcing them to make tough decisions. Tony Crescenzo is CEO of Intellidyne, a technology services firm.

The Air Force is facing the ever increasing likelihood that it will not 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 explains why the Air Force continues to struggle with financial management.

The Defense Department says more than 95 percent of its civilians are now back at work after many were furloughed last week. But the Pentagon continues to argue with Congress over whether civilian employees needed to be furloughed in the first place. Federal News Radio’s DoD reporter Jared Serbu has the details.

The agency in charge of the Thrift Savings Plan plans to spend more than $2 million to improve the TSP web site. It hopes to deliver a better user experience. Members of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board approved a nearly 18 percent increase in the agency’s budget for 2014. Part of the increase will help lay the groundwork for what the board calls a wholesale overhaul of the TSP front end. Renee Wilder is director of enterprise planning at the TSP.

The House this week passed a bill to pay essential federal employees on time, even if the shutdown continues. The Senate and the White House don’t support it. Another bill to give all feds backpay is stuck in the Senate. Federal News Radio Web Manager Julia Ziegler tells Tom and Emily what federal employees are saying about the jockeying over their pay.