Coast Guard service members would remain on duty during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown but could miss their next scheduled military payday on Feb. 27 if Congress does not pass funding in time, according to reporting by Federal Times.
- Who’s affected: The U.S. Coast Guard, which is housed under DHS (not the Department of Defense).
- What happens during a lapse: Coast Guard members are expected to continue working even if DHS funding lapses, Federal Times reported.
- Pay risk: Without an enacted appropriation or specific stopgap authority, members could go unpaid, with the next major pay date cited as Feb. 27, according to Federal Times.
- Family impact: A missed paycheck can immediately affect rent/mortgages, childcare, utilities, and debt payments for Coast Guard families, the outlet noted.
- Timing: The pay disruption risk is tied directly to whether Congress reaches a funding agreement before the shutdown deadline, Federal Times reported.
- Broader workforce note: A DHS shutdown can also affect civilian employees across DHS components through furloughs or excepted work rules, depending on mission requirements and shutdown guidance. (Coast Guard’s military status makes its pay situation distinct.)
Brief context
Unlike the other armed services—funded through the Department of Defense appropriations process—the Coast Guard’s day-to-day operations are funded through DHS. That difference can put Coast Guard members in a unique position during a DHS shutdown: they may be required to report for duty but face delayed pay until Congress passes funding or authorizes pay during a lapse.
For Coast Guard members and families, the near-term issue is cash flow. If pay is delayed past Feb. 27, members may need to plan for short-term coverage of essential bills and monitor official Coast Guard/DHS guidance for any updates on pay procedures and back pay timing. Federal employees and service members tracking shutdown impacts can also review general shutdown rules and pay timing guidance at FedBrief (fedbrief.org).
Source: Federal Times, “Coast Guard to work without pay during DHS shutdown” (Feb. 13, 2026): https://www.federaltimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/02/13/coast-guard-to-work-without-pay-during-dhs-shutdown/