Football to resume at Fort Campbell during government shutdown

The Department of Defense has made the decision to allow athletics and extracurricular activities to resume at DoDEA schools amid the ongoing government shutdown

By Daynnah Carmona October 7, 2025 5:50 pm

Clarksville NowThe Fort Campbell Falcons on Aug. 16, 2024. (Knox Rives)

FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Department of Defense has made the decision to allow athletics and extracurricular activities to resume at DoDEA schools amid the ongoing government shutdown, according to a news release Tuesday afternoon from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

“This decision provides welcome relief to the Fort Campbell and Fort Knox schools and their students, student-athletes, parents, and everyone who supports their school programs,” said a statement from McConnell.

This comes less than a week after the Fort Campbell Falcons shared that they may have to forfeit their scheduled regional game against Trigg County, putting their chance at the playoffs at risk as all games and practices were canceled. The game was later rescheduled to Oct. 30, along with the school’s homecoming dance.

That same day McConnell sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urging him to quickly grant DoDEA schools “excepted status.”

“I want to thank the Secretary of Defense for creating an exception to allow athletics and extracurricular activities at DoDEA schools to continue,” continued McConnell. “Our servicemembers and their children shouldn’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to fund the government. I’m so grateful they’ll now be able to suit up and get back in the game.”