While some agencies that support the uniformed services and veteran communities have full-year funding for FY 2026, others remain dependent on temporary funding set to expire Jan. 30.

What Congress does before that deadline will determine whether funding continues uninterrupted for some servicemembers, their families, and the civilian workforce that supports them.

Communities With Full-Year Funding

Enacted FY 2026 appropriations include funding for:

• Veterans and survivors, through accounts supporting the VA.
• Military construction, including facilities that support readiness and quality of life across military installations.
• The Department of Commerce, which includes the NOAA Commissioned Corps.

[TAKE ACTION: Protect Servicemember Pay During Any Future Shutdown]

Communities Still Operating Under Temporary Funding

Other major parts of the uniformed services community are still operating under a continuing resolution (CR) because their FY 2026 appropriations bills have not been enacted.

These include:

• The Department of War, which includes active duty military servicemembers, the National Guard and Reserve, and the civilian workforce responsible for supporting their readiness, training, and operations.
• The Coast Guard, including pay, operations, and mission execution for Coast Guard personnel (operating under the Department of Homeland Security).
• The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), whose commissioned officers support public health readiness and federal response missions (Operating under the Department of Health and Human Services).

Until full-year appropriations are enacted, these service communities remain subject to temporary funding tied to the Jan. 30 deadline.

[FROM CONGRESS.GOV: FY 2026 Appropriations Status Table]

MOAA’s Position and Mission

While continuing resolutions keep agencies operating in the short term, they do not provide the certainty or flexibility of full-year appropriations. Delays in completing the FY 2026 budget extend uncertainty for servicemembers, veterans, families, and the civilian workforce that supports the all-volunteer force — even as missions and commitments continue uninterrupted.

That is why legislation like the Shutdown Fairness Act is vital for protecting service-earned pay and benefits. It will ensure that members of the armed services, to include the reserve component, are paid during any future lapse in appropriations. Unfortunately, as written, the bill does not explicitly include members of the USPHS Commissioned Corps or the NOAA Commissioned Corps; MOAA is advocating for their addition before the bill moves to a vote.

[RELATED: More on the Shutdown Fairness Act]

MOAA will continue to engage with lawmakers to emphasize the importance of timely appropriations, monitor developments closely, and keep our members informed as Congress works toward completion of the FY 2026 budget.