Government shutdown military pay: do U.S. troops get paid?
In a government shutdown, military pay is not guaranteed on payday. Troops keep working because their jobs are essential, but they can only be paid when money is available, and any missed pay is paid once funding returns. Military retiree pay and VA benefits keep going. Right now there is no shutdown, and military pay is on its normal schedule. The government is funded through December 11, 2026.
Military pay: Normal Government: OPEN Live status
Does the military get paid during a government shutdown?
Active-duty service members, including reservists on full-time active duty, keep reporting for duty during a shutdown. Their work protects the country, so it cannot stop. But the law bars the government from paying anyone without money approved by Congress. Defense Department guidance says troops will not be paid until funds are available for the time they served.
In practice, a missed paycheck depends on timing and on workarounds. Military members are normally paid on the 1st and 15th of each month. A short shutdown can end before the next payday. In a longer one, Congress can pass a law to pay troops, or the administration can use other available money, as it did in 2025. Neither is guaranteed, which is why families worry most as each payday approaches.
What happened to military pay in past shutdowns
| Shutdown | What happened to troop pay |
|---|---|
| October 2013 (16 days) | Congress passed the Pay Our Military Act the day before the shutdown, so troops were paid on time. |
| Dec 2018 – Jan 2019 (35 days) | The Defense Department was already funded, so Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine pay was not affected. The Coast Guard, funded through Homeland Security, missed its January 15, 2019 paycheck: the first time a military branch went unpaid in a shutdown. |
| Oct – Nov 2025 (43 days) | The administration moved leftover Defense research money to pay troops: about $8 billion for the October 15 payday and about $5.3 billion for the October 31 payday. Some members reported being underpaid on October 15. |
| Feb – Apr 2026 (76 days, DHS only) | Active-duty Coast Guard members kept being paid with money from a 2025 law, while many Coast Guard civilian employees were not. |
Troops have not gone without pay in recent Defense Department shutdowns, but each time it took a special law or a one-time decision. The 2025 workaround came during the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Military retirees and veterans
- Military retirement pay continues. It is paid from the Military Retirement Fund, not from yearly funding, so a shutdown does not stop it. Survivor Benefit Plan payments continue too. Coast Guard retiree pay has come from the same fund since a 2021 law.
- VA benefits continue. Disability compensation, pensions and VA health care keep going. Claims processing and phone help can be slower.
National Guard and reservists
Guard and reserve members on full-time active duty keep working, like other troops. Monthly drills are different: Defense guidance says reservists should not perform drill duty that costs money unless it supports essential work. That usually means drills are canceled, and so is the drill pay that would have come with them.
Why the Coast Guard is different
The Coast Guard is a military branch, but it is funded through the Department of Homeland Security, not the Defense Department. So it can be affected even when the rest of the military is funded, as in January 2019, when its members missed a paycheck. In the 2026 Homeland Security shutdown, active-duty Coast Guard members kept being paid, but that was a one-time decision, not a rule.
Defense Department civilian employees
Civilians who support essential work keep working without pay; the rest are furloughed, meaning sent home without pay. By law, federal employees receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Military family members who work for federal contractors are not covered by that law.
What military families can do
- Watch official pay announcements from your branch and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service before each payday, and check your pay statement when it posts.
- Contact your branch's relief society (Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society or Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). They offer emergency help, including interest-free loans.
- Ask your bank or credit union early. Several military-focused lenders have offered paycheck advances or low-cost loans during past shutdowns.
- Tell lenders and landlords before a payment is missed; many will work with you.
Paydays are most at risk if a shutdown starts at the next funding deadline and runs past the 1st or 15th. If you also rely on SNAP or other benefits, those follow their own shutdown rules. Our U.S. government shutdown tracker shows the live status.
Frequently asked questions
Does the military get paid during a government shutdown?
Troops keep working, but they can only be paid if money is available. In recent shutdowns, Congress or the administration found a way to keep paychecks going, but that is not automatic. Any missed pay is paid once funding returns.
Do military retirees get paid during a government shutdown?
Yes. Military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments come from the Military Retirement Fund, not from yearly funding, so they continue on schedule. That includes Coast Guard retirees.
Will veterans get paid during a government shutdown?
Yes. VA disability compensation and pensions continue, because the VA gets much of its money a year in advance and some benefits are mandatory spending. Claims and call centers can be slower.
Will troops get back pay after a shutdown?
Yes. Service members earn their pay while they serve, and Defense Department guidance says they are paid for that time once Congress provides the money.
Does the Coast Guard get paid during a shutdown?
It depends on whether the Department of Homeland Security is funded, since the Coast Guard is part of it. Coast Guard members missed a paycheck in January 2019, but kept being paid during the 2026 Homeland Security shutdown.
Are National Guard and reserve drills canceled during a shutdown?
Usually, yes. Defense guidance says reservists should not perform drill duty that costs money unless it supports essential work. Members on full-time active duty keep working.