CWOA has asked Congress to shield military pay from the effects of government shutdowns - a practical reform modeled after successful past initiatives at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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 VA model fundamentally changed how veterans’ services operate,” Little explained. “It removed uncertainty, allowed for long-term planning, and ensured that veterans received the care and benefits they earned—regardless of politics. There’s no reason the same principle can’t apply to active-duty pay.”
Adopting a similar advance appropriations model for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security would not increase overall government spending. Instead, it would provide continuity, predictability, and peace of mind for service members who cannot pause their mission during a budget impasse.
“Our active-duty service members—especially the Coast Guard—should not have to worry about missing a paycheck while performing essential duties that protect the homeland,” Little continued. “This is about fairness, stability, and respect for those who serve.”
As discussions continue in Congress, CWOA urges bipartisan collaboration to move the measure forward. It is a nonpartisan, fiscally neutral reform that would end the recurring uncertainty military families face each time the government approaches a shutdown.
“The VA model shows that when Congress acts decisively, it can remove politics from pay and preserve stability for those who serve,” Little concluded. “It’s time to extend that same protection to every man and woman in uniform.”