{"id":81974,"date":"2025-09-24T17:38:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T17:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/09\/24\/heres-how-looming-government-shutdown-could-affect-troops-families\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:12:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:12:56","slug":"heres-how-looming-government-shutdown-could-affect-troops-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/09\/24\/heres-how-looming-government-shutdown-could-affect-troops-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s how looming government shutdown could affect troops, families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A possible partial government shutdown next week could delay military paychecks and affect other programs and services for troops and families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some defense agencies are dusting off previous guidance for operations<\/a> during such a shutdown in preparation as they wait for further guidance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, House lawmakers are pushing for specific legislation to guarantee military pay during government shutdowns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the House and Senate don\u2019t approve a short term extension of funding levels by Sept. 30, it could force a partial shutdown of most government activities on Oct. 1, until lawmakers can reach a new funding agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers are at a stalemate, and are out of town this week. Senators are scheduled to return Sept. 29. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump canceled a meeting scheduled for this week with House and Senate Democrat leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shutdown \u201cwill only hurt the most vulnerable in our country, our seniors, our veterans, our military families and increasing security for members of Congress, which is something this White House and the administration supports,\u201d said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a Sept. 22 briefing with reporters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At publication time, no new guidance for operations during a shutdown had been issued by the Office of Management and Budget or by defense officials, and information was not available from OMB or DOD about when that guidance might happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But based on previous guidance, we\u2019ve compiled some general information about what might and what might not continue to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no guarantee that current guidance will mirror past recommendations. Stay tuned for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military personnel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Active-duty troops, including reserve component personnel on federal active duty would be required to continue to report for duty in the event of a shutdown, but their paychecks would stop until a new funding deal is reached, based on previous guidance. Military retirees and annuitants would continue to receive their pay, which is funded from a different source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., has introduced legislation to ensure that troops, including the Coast Guard, would continue receiving pay and benefits in the event of a government shutdown. That authority would continue until regular appropriations are passed into law, or until Jan. 1, 2027. To date, 56 lawmakers have signed on to support the proposed Pay Our Troops Act of 2026. The bipartisan push also would guarantee pay and allowances for civilian personnel at the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security who directly support service members and contractors providing mission-essential support to service members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shutdown could also delay some specialty pays and stipends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain DOD programs and activities may be excepted from being shut down, based on national security requirements to be determined. One example in the last guidance was activities in direct support of military operations and activities, including those forces assigned to combatant commands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shutdown could also limit permanent change of station moves for military personnel. Previously, moves were primarily limited to troops moving to an excepted activity \u2014 activities granted an exemption from the shutdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\t