The American Forces Network is one of the many casualties of the government shutdown brought on by obstructionist Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Dubbed “Schumer’s Shutdown,” one of the effects of the Senate not being able to come to an agreement on a stopgap funding measure was that the network that carries NFL games for military members overseas went dark just after midnight Friday, Star and Stripes reported.

Hey @SenSchumer, you guys really screwed over our troops abroad who wanted to watch the #NFL playoffs this weekend. #shutdown #AFN pic.twitter.com/A6nAScNGs3

— Matt Soleyn (@MattSoleyn) January 20, 2018

The loss of programming coming on the weekend of the NFC and AFC football championship games, when the Super Bowl match up is decided.

The league is getting involved, despite Commissioner Roger Goodell’s year-long support of NFL players disrespecting the national anthem.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted on Saturday: “Military members can watch tomorrow’s NFL games at USO Centers overseas through NFL Game Pass for free.”

Lindsey Graham just learned the hard way never to mess with Tom Cotton

Military members can watch tomorrow’s NFL games at USO Centers overseas through NFL Game Pass for free.

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) January 20, 2018

And while the move is a decent thing to do for troops who have become pawns in the Democrat push for amnesty for foreign nationals in the country illegally, who they fondly refer to as “DREAMers,” the NFL’s action still leaves a void.

The trouble is, according to Stars and Stripes, not all USO locations have high-speed internet needed for the NFL’s streaming service. Places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Servicemembers aboard ships also may not being able to access a USO facility, the military newspaper noted.

McCarthy did note that the NFL “is working on alternatives for service members.”

For the record, during the last government shutdown, in October 2013, the AFN was able to remain on air.

One social media user offered a possible explanation for this:

I’m one of the DOD civilian employees that works in the TV Operations department at the AFN Broadcast Center. What’s changed is that in 2013, there used to be a few military personnel assigned there that kept a couple channels on. Since then, those military positions were cut.

— Andrew Wiskow (@AndrewWiskow) January 21, 2018

Overall, the online reaction wasn’t very kind, especially toward Schumer. Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:

AFN means the world to our deployed #Troops and their families. Do you realize now that @SenSchumer has shut down the Government they will no longer have AFN which means no #NFL AFC & NFC playoff games tomorrow along with all other programs #ShumerShutdown #MAGA @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/5SzPcH6084

— Billy Long (@auctnr1) January 21, 2018

When I was a child in Germany, AFN was our only news and radio. At least now, they have the Internet to keep them informed. But, I know the AFN networks are missed during the shutdown. https://t.co/N2WCtNishn

— Cindy Hardy (@CindyHardy) January 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/giucone/status/954893664538394624

This is inexcusable our military deserve better 😡#releasethememo https://t.co/AcWOy6vYpC

— Debbie (@debi_malcolm) January 21, 2018

If you watch today’s Conference Championship Games tweet a lot. AFN (Armed Forces Network) has been disabled due to shutdown. Deployed Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines will need updates.

— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard606) January 20, 2018

White House: No DACA deal until ‘Senate Democrats reopen the government’

Somebody needs to fix this today – it may seem like small potatoes to some, but troops, embassy employees, and other gov't employees overseas rely on AFN for news, sports, entertainment. It's a big deal. Has to be fixable, and needs to be fixed, regardless of fed. shutdown status https://t.co/AAHzvnd6bS

— Jason Beale (@jabeale) January 20, 2018

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Tom Tillison

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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

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