With the government shutdown showing no signs of winding down, military families are left juggling the stress of living paycheck to paycheck. This situation has only deepened their fears about the financial future.
Just days before the much-anticipated payday, the Trump administration intervened by reallocating Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security funds. They also accepted a questionable private donation to ensure that service members would still get their paychecks.
While this last-minute help may ease the pressure of potential late mortgage payments or mounting bills, the constant worry of financial instability remains pervasive.
Coast Guard spouse Jessica Manfre, who works as a senior case advisor for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, said, “People panic and stress about how to cover their essential expenses. There’s rent, mortgages—all of which can’t be ignored. It leads to a constant state of uncertainty about what to do next.”
Many military families are turning to food banks, stockpiling necessities as they fear for future affordability.
During a visit to a mobile food bank in Hampton Roads, Virginia, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny spoke with Kady Frazier, a Navy technician’s spouse, who held her toddler and expressed her concerns: “It’s frustrating that we keep facing these situations when it seems like keeping the government operational should be straightforward.”
The broader military community was already fragile economically, dealing with food insecurity issues long before this shutdown. According to a recent analysis by the Military Family Advisory Network, about 25% of active-duty families struggle to meet their nutritional needs.
Monica Bassett, CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry, emphasized, “The rise in hunger among military households has only gotten worse due to the shutdown.”
Simultaneously, the Department of Agriculture announced it won’t tap into its $6 billion fund to continue providing SNAP benefits, which is vital for some military families even during good financial times.
Families with children facing complex health challenges are feeling the brunt of the government shutdown, facing unexpected costs as well.
Austin Carrigg, an Army spouse and CEO of Exceptional Families of the Military, noted, “Some military care facilities can’t get medication that families critically need.” That forces these families to turn to civilian pharmacies, incurring costs they wouldn’t normally have to bear.
Carrigg also pointed out that many families are overwhelmed by financial planning, with some unable to prepare due to sheer anxiety and uncertainty.
One military spouse went viral for confronting House Speaker Mike Johnson live on C-SPAN about her situation, pleading for legislation to pass that would ensure crucial payments for her medically needy children: “Without this support, their lives are at risk. We’re financially strained due to medical expenses, and I’m begging for help. Our children could die without the necessary medication,” she said.
The turmoil for military families is exacerbated by high unemployment rates among military spouses. Despite many having college degrees, the jobless rate hovers around 20%, significantly higher than the national average.
The frequent relocations every couple of years hinder their ability to maintain stable careers, adding to their financial vulnerability.
Many military spouses have recently lost federal jobs after campaign promises to prioritize military hires turned out to be unfulfilled. Those who dodged job cuts during Trump’s administration are now facing furloughs and unpaid periods.
Compounded by the ongoing challenges of military life, the financial effects of the shutdown are pushing some families to their limits.
Blue Star Families, a prominent nonprofit for military members and veterans, is directing families to assistance programs. “These difficulties pose an immense risk, not only financially but also psychologically, as they grapple with government challenges while fulfilling their military obligations,” said Katie Roth Duquet, co-founder of Blue Star Families in an interview.
Many families are reconsidering their military commitments, raising valid concerns about national security as service members wrestle with unmet basic needs.
The situation highlights the troubling crossroads America sits at concerning its obligations to the volunteers who safeguard the nation.
