Updated April 1, 2026.

Lawmakers left Washington, D.C., last month for a two-week break without sending a bill to the president funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but an April 1 deal between House and Senate Republican leaders could mean a fix “in the coming days.”

While active duty Coast Guard members received end-of-month paychecks, their future pay remains uncertain until the proposed funding deal takes full effect. MOAA supports legislation that would ensure servicemembers are paid during full or partial federal shutdowns; the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3168/H.R. 7137) is part of our annual spring Advocacy in Action campaign.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Protect Servicemember Pay During a Shutdown]

The Shutdown So Far

Coast Guard members have been paid throughout the DHS funding lapse, but the funding source is unclear and future paychecks are not guaranteed. As of last month, the service was “operating under the grim uncertainty of whether we can make the next payroll,” Vice Commandant Adm. Thomas Allan told House lawmakers in written testimony before a March 25 House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

Coast Guard retiree pay is unaffected by the partial shutdown, which is now the longest in federal history. Attempts to end it failed March 27 after the Senate passed a bill to fund the entire department except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, and the House did not consider the measure. Instead, the House passed a bill hours later that would fund all of DHS through May 22. The Senate left Washington before considering that legislation.

Both chambers return to full sessions the week of April 13, but a deal between House and Senate leaders reportedly could move forward through pro forma sessions scheduled for April 2. It would include passage of the March 27 Senate proposal along with separate legislation to provide longer-term DHS funding.

MOAA has shared with lawmakers how the situation has created both mental strain and financial hardship for those in uniform and their families. Alongside our Military Coalition partners, MOAA sent a March 9 letter to congressional leaders urging delivery of pay for those impacted.

[READ MORE: Funding Lapse Continues to Threaten Coast Guard Pay]

A Legislative Fix

The Shutdown Fairness Act would guarantee pay for servicemembers, including reserve components, during a funding lapse. This protects servicemembers from being part of budget negotiations in Congress and allows them to stay focused on their missions.

The bill should be amended to include NOAA Commissioned Corps officers. A fix also is needed for the USPHS Commissioned Corps but may be beyond the scope of this bill as USPHS members are paid by the department to which they are assigned; establishing a centralized pay system would streamline pay and enable similar shutdown protections.

Please join us in asking your elected officials to support the Shutdown Fairness Act to protect uniformed servicemembers from disruptions in pay.