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Aniela Szymanski, Chief Policy Officer No clear answers exist. As the federal government shutdown drags into its third week, the next scheduled paycheck for active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces, set for October 31, hangs in the balance. Military personnel continue to serve and uphold national security, yet their pay has become a casualty of political stalemate — leaving service members and their families uncertain about whether they will be compensated on time.
Earlier this month, the administration announced it would redirect approximately $8 billion of previously unobligated research and development funds from the Department of Defense (DoD) to make the mid-October paycheck (October 15) for troops. However, officials explicitly noted that this measure does not guarantee pay beyond that date if the shutdown continues.
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Aniela Szymanski, Chief Policy Officer The proposal would authorize two-year appropriations for military personnel accounts, ensuring that service members and their families continue to receive pay even if Congress fails to pass a budget on time. The measure represents a forward-thinking solution that would finally protect troops—including members of the U.S. Coast Guard—from the financial instability that too often accompanies funding lapses.
“This concept is exactly the type of forward-thinking solution that would finally protect our service members and their families from the financial harm caused by government shutdowns,” CWOA Executive Director Michael Little said. The idea draws inspiration from a proven precedent. In 2009, Congress passed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which granted the Department of Veterans Affairs advance appropriations for its medical care accounts—authorizing funding one year ahead of the normal budget cycle. That reform allowed VA hospitals to maintain staffing, patient care, and critical operations even when Congress delayed annual budgets. Later, Congress expanded that protection to include VA benefits programs such as disability compensation and pensions, ensuring that veterans’ payments continued uninterrupted during government shutdowns. The Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association joins the broader veteran community in expressing deep disappointment in The Washington Post’s recent article, “How Some Veterans Exploit $193 Billion VA Program, Due to Lax Controls.” The story’s narrative misrepresents the reality of the Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation system and, in doing so, disrespects the men and women who have earned those benefits through honorable and often life-altering service.
As a retired Chief Warrant Officer, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices our service members endure. The vast majority of veterans who file disability claims do so because their service left them with visible and invisible wounds that impact their daily lives. To imply that these same individuals are taking advantage of a “lax system” is a grave injustice. Fraud exists in every government program, and when it occurs, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice are fully capable of investigating and prosecuting those responsible. Those cases are rare. They do not represent the millions of veterans who navigate a complex, confusing, and often exhausting claims process just to receive the care and support they were promised. The Post’s piece fails to recognize that the number of disability claims has risen not because of greed or deception, but because of the 24 years of continuous military operations following 9/11, and because medical advances now save lives once lost on the battlefield. Survival, however, comes at a cost — chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, and psychological trauma that often emerge months or years after returning home. The Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association stands firmly in defense of those who have borne the battle. We will always support accountability, but we reject any narrative that paints veterans as opportunists. Our focus must remain on modernizing the VA system, improving claims processing, and ensuring timely care for every veteran in need. The debt this nation owes its veterans is not one that can be questioned in headlines — it’s one that must be honored through understanding, compassion, and continued commitment. CWO4 (Ret.) Mark Cortor Vice President for Retired Affairs Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard |
AuthorThe views expressed in the articles in this publication are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organizations for which they work, CWOAUSCG, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or the U.S. government. Archives
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