Military and Veteran Organizations Urge to End Shutdown

Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Democratic Leader Schumer, and Democratic Leader Jeffries:   

Bipartisan support for our nation’s military, our service members, their families, and Veterans, is a hallmark of our national politics. Despite differences, we unite on these core matters.  As we approach one full month of lapsed appropriations and the shutdown of numerous government functions, our troops and military readiness are beginning to suffer.    

Approximately 335,000 defense civilians are on furlough. Vital military contract support services are on hold. Among those working without pay are National Guard technicians, firefighters, childcare workers, air traffic controllers, and health care providers. Military pharmacies are unable to refill supplies of some medications, and therefore unable to fill some prescriptions.  

While the President has directed funds be found to pay military service members on   Oct. 31, many military families are still coming up short. That’s because 27 percent of employed military spouses work for the federal government and are not receiving pay right now.   Things will only grow worse: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already signaled that money will not be available to fund Nov. 15 paychecks if the shutdown lasts that long.     

At $8.5 billion a month, the military payroll crisis is too large for charities and public generosity to overcome.  Were every American to contribute $20 to offset the cost of military payroll, that would still be too little to cover a month’s military pay.  Only restoring federal funding can solve this problem.     

We stand ready to assist you in any way to restore funding to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and government operations in full.  

Sincerely,  

Air & Space Forces Association

Association of the United States Army  

Marine Corps Association

National Guard Association of the United States

Reserve Organization of America

Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States