Pentagon Operating Hundreds of Golf Courses During Shutdown While Saying They Need to Borrow Money to Pay Death Benefits to Families of Fallen Soldiers

The Pentagon is continuing to operate hundreds of golf courses around the world during the federal government shutdown, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed to TheBlaze on Wednesday.

The confirmation comes on the heels of news that the Pentagon has stopped paying out death benefits — normally $100,000 — to the families of fallen soldiers, saying the shutdown means there is no authority to pay the money.

Instead, it was announced on Wednesday that outside organization Fisher House Foundation will cover the costs. The Pentagon will then later reimburse the organization when the shutdown ends.

According to a December 2012 Salon.com article, the Pentagon operates 234 golf courses around the world at an undisclosed cost.

The military is still operating hundreds of golf courses around the world, despite the federal government shutdown. (Image Source: Shutterstock.com)

DoD spokesperson Kathy Wilkinson told TheBlaze Wednesday that the golf courses are still open.

"They are still operating," she said. "In general, our understanding is that because they are on nonappropriated funding, they are still open."

According to the official DoD Dictionary of Military Terms, nonappropriated funds are "funds generated by Department of Defense personnel and their dependents used to augment funds appropriated by the Congress to provide a comprehensive, morale-building welfare, religious, educational, and recreational programs."

Wilkinson said that because the golf courses are mostly self-sustaining, they can remain open.

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