More Than 41,000 Coast Guardsmen Threatened with Missing Paychecks During DHS Shutdown

Over a dozen House Republicans from districts with significant Coast Guard populations have urged President Donald Trump to ensure active-duty and reserve Coast Guard members receive their paychecks as the Department of Homeland Security remains in a partial government shutdown.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), wrote to the president on Friday requesting measures similar to those deployed during last year’s government shutdown to guarantee military personnel payments. In their letter, they stated: “As a result of the current partial government shutdown, members of the United States Coast Guard—who serve under the Department of Homeland Security—are once again working without pay.”

The representatives emphasized that Coast Guard personnel conduct critical missions including safeguarding shores, securing ports, interdicting illegal narcotics, protecting maritime borders, and conducting lifesaving search-and-rescue operations with “courage and professionalism that have long defined this proud branch of our Armed Forces.” They noted more than 41,000 active-duty and activated Reserve Coast Guard members risk missing their next scheduled payday on February 27 if the Department of Homeland Security does not receive appropriations.

Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed DHS appropriations bill for fiscal year funding last week after their demands for immigration enforcement changes were rejected. The shutdown has halted funding for other key DHS components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration.

The letter condemned the situation as a result of “political brinkmanship by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and other Democratic leaders who are choosing to play politics with our homeland security.” It stressed that “the Coast Guard is an essential branch of our armed services, and its members should never be used as leverage in partisan disputes.”

During last fall’s government shutdown, the Trump administration directed the Pentagon to cover military pay using “all available funds” within the Department of War. The Pentagon identified billions in unobligated research, development, test, and evaluation funds from prior fiscal year budgets to issue payroll despite funding lapses.

The lawmakers urged President Trump to “use every authority at your disposal to ensure these dedicated service members do not miss a paycheck,” noting that “these brave men and women have faithfully upheld their oath to serve this country without hesitation.” The letter was signed by Reps. Claudia Tenney, Nick LaLota, Nicholas Langworthy of New York; Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vernon Buchanan, and Randy Fine of Florida; Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey; Tony Wied of Wisconsin; Michael Cloud of Texas; Nicholas Begich of Alaska; and Pete Stauber of Minnesota.

The White House has not yet responded to the request.