Coast Guard families are underreported victims of the Homeland Security shutdown

“Hurry up and wait.”

We’ve all heard this phrase at one point or another, but at this exact moment in time, it really (and literally) hits home. A partial government shutdown is currently affecting thousands of U.S. Coast Guard service members and their families.

In February 2026, Congress and the president failed to meet a deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security amid concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers needed to be reined in after fatally shooting two American citizens in Minneapolis.

Also Read: Why the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security

Democrats are demanding that restrictions on ICE be codified into law, and have offered at least five conciliatory bills that would fund other DHS agencies while that sticking point is negotiated. Republicans have turned down each bill in turn. Meanwhile, other enforcement offices are caught in the crossfire, most notably the TSA.

But while long airport lines dominate the shutdown-related headlines, the Coast Guard and Coast Guard families are usually forgotten. Our Coasties haven’t been paid in five weeks.

But why?

The Coast Guard is affected because it receives funding through DHS (Department of Homeland Security), not the Department of War formerly the Department of Defense). While Coast Guard members still work full-time, funding lapsed on Feb. 14, 2026, creating paycheck certainty (among other financial woes).

Friends and family of Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers honor his memory during a memorial service at Coast Guard Air Station Astoria. Jaggers died Mar. 5, 2026, from critical injuries suffered during the rescue of a distressed mariner from a commercial ship on Feb. 27. (U.S Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class William Kirk)

On the day this story was published, the following message could be found on the United States Coast Guard (USCG) homescreen:

“NOTICE: A lapse in appropriations has occurred. Military members will continue to report for duty as per normal operations. Excepted and exempt civilian employees will report to work as usual. Managers and supervisors of non-exemption/non-excepted civilian employees must begin conducting orderly shutdown on the next scheduled workday. FAQs and resources regarding the lapse operations will continue to be posted here and the internal lapse site.“

While many service members and families across all branches of service need to hear this, it needs to be said with clarity and conviction: You are not failing if you need help. And you are not alone.

It just happens to be especially true for the Coast Guard.

More than 40,000 Coast Guard families are being impacted, and the uncertainty of “when do we get paid” remains at the top of their minds. Unfortunately, this is completely out of the Coast Guard’s control, as the government (along with the president) tries to make a deal with itself.

Chief Petty Officer Joseph Gonzalez of the USCGC Munro is greeted by his family during the cutter’s return to its home port after a historic 119-day multi-mission deployment spanning more than 26,000 miles from the Eastern Pacific Ocean to the Northern Atlantic on Mar. 1, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley)

“Serving in the Coast Guard taught me to expect the mission to come first, but it should never come at the cost of our families’ stability,” Coast Guard Veteran Tammy Barlet said. “To every Coast Guard family feeling the strain right now, this isn’t a personal failure; it’s a systems failure, and the same strength we carried in uniform is what’s carrying this community through now.”

While pay is guaranteed—eventually—the timing of that pay still remains uncertain.

So what can our Coast Guard milspouses do right now?

The number one recommended step by commands across the country is to use emergency financial support and visit Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, which is ready to support Coast Guard families during a government shutdown. It offers a variety of services, including grants, paycheck replacement programs, interest-free loans, and more.

Be preemptive and contact your bank before you’re in crisis. Your banking institution might be able to provide assistance for military shutdowns, support for pay disruptions, or allow deferred payments. You never know if you don’t ask.

There are legal protections that most spouses don’t realize, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This can mean capped interest rates at 6%, delayed foreclosures or evictions, and protection against certain penalties, among other benefits.

A full explainer, “Know Your Rights: A Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act” can be found on the United States Department of Justice website.

Try your hardest not to think of this next piece of advice as long-term planning, but rather prioritizing cash flow by focusing on housing, utilities, food, and transportation. Identify non-essentials and either reduce or eliminate funds altogether.

Last, but this could definitely be the most important- communicate early and plan ahead by sharing with your landlord, credit card companies, childcare providers, and the like. Most companies have policies to help you through the transition and hardship.

While our Coast Guard service members continue to await their well-deserved and earned pay, they try to remain strong as pay is guaranteed, but delayed. The biggest risk is short-term financial strain, not long-term loss. This has happened before—and will be resolved eventually—but until then, try and let the quiet math in your head subside and protect your peace where you can.