It’s bad enough that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is playing politics with his unnecessary government shutdown. But his actions have real consequences for American troops and their families, leaving many in the dark and desperate for answers.
Military families are grappling with the uncertainty this shutdown brings and hoping for relief to come soon. Many services have been temporarily closed at military bases, with the closure impacting families who were busy moving around the country and the world in service to their country.
Republicans have repeatedly offered a clean, continuing resolution and voted to fund the government without partisan policymakers. But their opponents are not backing down.
SOCIAL SECURITY, AIRPORTS, FOOD STAMPS: WHICH ARE YOU AFFECTED DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
The government shutdown began on October 1, with US troops hardest hit. About 1.3 million active-duty troops, including active-duty National Guard and Reserve personnel, began the shutdown and continued to work without pay, but President Donald Trump’s order “to use all available resources to get our troops PAID by October 15” put an end to those concerns, at least with many troops receiving their paychecks with recycled research money.
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division load an Airforce C-17 Globemaster aircraft to conduct Operation Panther Storm at Fort Bragg in March. (US Army / Sergeant Taylor Hoganson)
Despite troops receiving these emergency paychecks on Oct. 15, the general anxiety among service members during the shutdown is reflected in a 30% increase in demand this month across the country at the Armed Services YMCA, which operates nearly two dozen food banks near military installations across the United States. At some food banks, demand is so high that they have to close early because they run out of food. At others, lines began forming more than six hours before food banks opened.
Furthermore, despite Trump’s order ensuring that troops are paid in the meantime, the U.S. military is still under intense pressure, especially on military bases abroad, where service members and their families are much more dependent on on-base services than military families stationed in the United States. Many of these military facilities abroad have had to temporarily close their services due to Schumer’s shutdown.
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For example, Ramstein Air Base in Germany has temporarily closed its library, aquatics center, UNITE morale and recreation program, Military and Family Readiness Center Spouse Hub, and civilian employee office. Other US military bases abroad with some services temporarily closed include RAF Lakenheath, US Army Garrison Benelux, US Army Garrison Ansbach, US Army Garrison Bavaria, US Army Garrison Wiesbaden and Naval Air Station Sigonella.
MORNING GLORY: SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER MUST END HIS GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN
Anyone familiar with the military lifestyle knows that frequent movements between bases around the world are a recurring fact of life. Many troops and their families are currently struggling with permanent change of station (PCS) orders, as a U.S. Air Force official revealed that pilots who received PCS orders before October 1 are allowed to continue moving, but those who received orders after the shutdown began are on hold to move.
The military faces a similar problem. Even ongoing PCS moves have been halted, despite orders coming in before October 1. This is exceptionally concerning because the shutdown began just after the majority of PCS orders were shipped, meaning many families are waiting to move into their new homes across the country and around the world, staying in on-base hotels and spending weeks or even months without the comforts of home.
Those who have to make PCS moves during the shutdown are facing financial challenges due to the uncertain environment. One organization estimates that military families spend an average of $8,000 beyond what the government covers in moving costs – a very large financial burden for families who are unsure when they will receive their paychecks. Moving costs are an especially big concern for younger military families, who often have very little savings.
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As military families and personnel are urged to spend less money, they are left wondering when their next paycheck will come and how to best prepare their families for continued negative news.
Of all the negative consequences of Schumer’s shutdown, some of the worst impacts are on military personnel and installations. Our service members and their families deserve better than this.
