A MOAA-backed bill which would keep paychecks coming for servicemembers and many service-connected civilians if the government shuts down had more than 55 cosponsors as of Sept. 23, showing bipartisan support to shield the total force from budget fallout.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 (H.R. 5401) would allow the government to use funds “not otherwise appropriated” to cover pay and allowances for armed services personnel as well as civilians and contractors supporting those in uniform. The legislation “provides the financial certainty military families deserve, protecting them from the instability of government shutdowns while they protect us,” said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), in a news release announcing the bill’s Sept. 16 introduction.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmaker to Protect Servicemembers’ Pay]

“Military service is more than a career; it’s a commitment to defend this nation at all costs,” said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), a former Navy pilot who introduced the bipartisan bill. “This legislation ensures that we honor the commitment of our troops by guaranteeing their pay, no matter what happens in Washington.”

While the legislation would cover Coast Guard members, it does not ensure continued paychecks for members of the commissioned corps of the U.S. Public Health Service or NOAA; MOAA will continue to advocate for their protection should the shutdown move forward.

[RELATED: What Would a Shutdown Mean for Retirement Pay?]

Along with MOAA, other groups supporting the legislation include the National Military Family Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and Blue Star Families.

Familiar Territory

MOAA supported similar legislation last year as the budget debate moved toward its deadline and has worked on multiple fronts to ensure those in uniform and their families do not suffer financial hardship because the federal government cannot enact a budget on time.

[FROM MILITARY TIMES: Here’s How Looming Government Shutdown Could Affect Troops, Families]

Coast Guard members were not paid during the 2018-19 government shutdown, as funding for the Department of Homeland Security was not restored until the shutdown ended (the Pentagon had been funded by a spending bill in advance of the deadline). Tens of thousands of servicemembers continued their duties during the funding lapse, unsure when their next check would arrive.

The Pay Our Troops Act offers some stability to many who wear the uniform (and their families) as the budget situation remains unclear – lawmakers aren’t set to return to Washington until Sept. 29, just hours before the end of the fiscal year. Ask your legislators to prioritize this fix today.

[FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Army Emergency Relief | Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society | Air Force Aid Society | Coast Guard Mutual Assistance]