How does a government shutdown affects military families? It’s a question we discuss several times a year, usually with folks telling me that “the government won’t *actually* shut down!” And yet, here we are.
So how will this affect you?
Please ask questions! I will find answers, and also update this post as more information becomes available!
Military Pay
The impact of a government shutdown on military pay is making big news. And it is big news, but it’s not our most pressing issue.
I hope that is true, though I have some concerns about how this is happening.
What Can Help With Pay?
Well, so far, the government has figured out a way to cover two paychecks during the shutdown. They are stating that there probably won’t be “extra” money floating around to cover the November mid-month paycheck.
Many military-related banks and credit unions offer short-term loans to bridge the gap – temporarily. USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union have announced their programs already. See what your financial institution is doing!
It is also possible that Congress could enact separate legislation to avoid a military pay delay. This has happened in previous shutdowns but has not yet happened for this potential shutdown.
In the meantime, start prepping your finances for the possibility that pay will be delayed.
You will get paid, eventually. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees back pay for work performed during a government shutdown.
And as always, your relief societies stand by to provide assistance:
Army Emergency Relief
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Air Force Aid Society
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Society
Women, Infants, and Children Benefits
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is a serious concern in any shutdown. Thousands of military families rely on this federal program to keep food on their tables. Many states are warning folks that they will not have money to pay WIC benefits in November 2025.
In good news, it is being reported that overseas WIC benefits are funded and won’t be interrupted.
Child Care
As of right now, it appears that on-base childcare is not impacted by the shutdown. Yet. In past shutdowns, the decision to close on-base Child Development Centers has been made base-by-base. According to my local installation, child care is considered essential and they are not shutting down. However, there is always the potential that operations may be impacted even if they stay open. I would check with your location just to be sure.
Childcare subsidies offered through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program may be a different story. Per Operation Child Care Project, care for Navy and Coast Guard families is at high risk as their funding is already a precarious. Funding for other branches seems a tiny bit more secure. But it’s not pretty.
It’s important to note that youth programs are often funded and managed differently than CDCs, and it appears that youth programs would likely close.
DoDEA Schools
Per the Department of Defense Education Activity website, school operations will continue as usual. Extracurricular activities were suspended briefly, but have resumed. Yay!!
Commissaries
The Defense Commissary Agency states that they anticipate commissaries will remain open for 60 days or until they run out of operating funds. After that point, they usually predict that overseas commissaries will remain open.
Military Exchanges
Military exchanges, including AAFES, NEX, MCX, and CGX, would remain open as they are generally self-funding operations.
Tricare
Tricare benefits are supposed to be unaffected by a government shutdown. The two Tricare contractors will remain open to provide support to Tricare beneficiaries.
However, it is being reported that reimbursement to providers may be delayed. Given the number of providers who are already waiting for delayed payments, it is possible that providers will refuse care to Tricare beneficiaries. I know at least one of my providers is very unhappy with Tricare, and that was before the shutdown.
Military Treatment Facilities
MTFs would remain open for essential operations – though what that means may vary. Non-urgent care at MTFs may be postponed until after the shutdown. Your MTF should communicate with you if they need to cancel or reschedule. But also they might be a little swamped.
It is being reported that MTF are unable to order supplies or prescriptions, so you may find that you can’t get your usual refills on base. You can always go to a civilian pharmacy, but you’ll have to pay co-payments.
PCS Moves
Most PCS moves would be suspended during a government shutdown. The Army has currently issued a stop move order. Exceptions may exist for moves to critical locations or families being reassigned for urgent medical needs.
Per Megan Harliss, PCS Advocate and founder of PCS Like A Pro, “The biggest thing is that some families are going to be left in limbo.”
If you are in the process of a move, please contact your transportation office ASAP for guidance specific to your situation. If you’re currently trying to get through an overseas screening, or get a SOFA or official passport, you should anticipate delays in the process.
Perhaps more importantly, reimbursements for moves that have already happened may be delays. Coming off the summer PCS season, there are many families that haven’t been reimbursed for Personally Procured Moves, Dislocation Allowance, temporary lodging, and travel expenses.
This could be a significant amount of money. At one point, in one overseas move, the Navy owed our family over $10,000. We were fortunate that we could float those expenses, but not every family is in that situation. It can be a real hardship.
At least one family I know is stuck in temporary lodging, awaiting check-in to housing because the housing office isn’t fully staffed. They’re not being reimbursed for their costs, and bills are piling up.
Leave
Because of the way military leave is funded, leave may be cancelled for military members during a government shutdown.
Training and Travel
Most training and travel will be cancelled or postponed. Exceptions are made for certain situations.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is currently paused.
Distance Education
Distance education programs, such as the War Colleges, were briefly funded but were expected to run out of money. I’ll ask my contact where we are right now.
National Guard and Reserves
It is projected that many National Guard and Reserve operations would be suspended during a shutdown. More importantly, these reserve component members wouldn’t be paid for work they didn’t do.
Troops on active status (AGR) will continue to work, just like their active duty counterparts. They would receive retroactive pay when the government is funded.
Veterans Affairs Benefits
The key functions of the Department of Veterans Affairs will remain operational. This includes healthcare and the payment of disability compensation and educational benefits. Support services such as educational counseling and career services are suspended. The GI Bill telephone hotline is expected to be closed. This link provides a great visual of what will remain functional and what will close, based on guidance that was shared during a previous shutdown threat.
However, it’s important to remember that many of these tasks are interconnected, and that means that benefits that should be OK might not be OK. Sure, education benefits might be funded, but the technician that processes a change in enrollment might be furloughed. Or a mistake in a payment can’t be fixed because there’s no one to fix it. Students and schools are FRUSTRATED. Not universally, but many, many individuals are impacted.
Military Retirement Pay
Military retirement pay for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard is not paid via the budget process and should be unaffected by a shutdown.
However, retirement pay for the Public Health Service and NOAA are not paid via the same pathways, and the October retirement pay scheduled for 1 November could be impacted if the delay continues towards the end of October.
Survivor Benefit Plan Annuitants
Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not paid via the budget process and should be unaffected by a shutdown.
We all hope that a government shutdown doesn’t happen. But it has, and it will affect many aspects of life for military families. Be prepared.
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