The federal government shutdown has entered its third week, raising critical questions about its impact on national security operations. While military personnel and border agents remain on duty, thousands of civilian workers face furloughs as funding negotiations stall.

The Pentagon has secured $6.5 billion to ensure active-duty troops receive pay, while DHS uses reconciliation funds to maintain border operations. However, reduced base services and delayed benefits processing highlight the shutdown’s widening consequences.

With Congress at an impasse, the administration’s selective payroll measures underscore the political and human costs of prolonged budget standoffs.

Federal Government Shutdowns: Impact on Military Pay and Border Agent Operations Explained

Military Pay During a Federal Shutdown: Will Troops Face Delays?

As the federal government shutdown enters its 17th day, concerns mount over potential disruptions to military pay. Active-duty service members are guaranteed continued payment through creative Pentagon accounting measures, including $6.5 billion in repurposed research funds. However, defense officials caution that paychecks due October 15 could face delays if the shutdown persists.

The situation presents a stark contrast for different military personnel:

• Active-duty troops: Protected under “excepted service” status
• Civilian defense employees: 334,900 facing immediate furloughs
• Contractors: No guarantee of backpay or continued work

While military families appreciate the pay guarantees, many live paycheck-to-paycheck and cannot absorb temporary delays. Commissary closures and reduced base services compound the financial strain during shutdown periods.

The real test comes around the 30-day mark. That’s when even the Pentagon’s financial maneuvers start showing cracks, particularly for housing allowances and special pays that require active congressional appropriations.

Border Security Operations: How DHS Keeps Agents Paid

The Department of Homeland Security has taken unprecedented steps to maintain border operations, designating 70,000 law enforcement personnel as essential staff. Through reconciliation funds and prior-year allocations, DHS ensures continuous pay for:

This selective protection of certain federal employees while others face furloughs has sparked debate about equity in shutdown impacts. Critics argue it creates a two-tier system within the federal workforce.

What few realize is that while pay continues, border agents often can’t access training funds or purchase new equipment during shutdowns. The operational impacts accumulate quietly behind the scenes.

Why Some Federal Workers Get Paid While Others Don’t

The distinction between “excepted” and “non-excepted” employees stems from constitutional interpretations of essential services. The administration currently defines border security and military operations as protecting “life and property,” while other agencies like NASA and the EPA face full closures.

Military Base Services: What Stays Open During Shutdowns?

While bases remain operational, vital quality-of-life services face cuts that directly impact military families:

• Commissaries: 60% reduction in operating hours
• Childcare: Waitlists grow as staff furloughs hit
• Medical: Elective procedures postponed
• MWR Programs: Fitness and recreation facilities minimally staffed

These reductions create cascading effects—when childcare centers close, dual-military families suddenly face tough choices about reporting for duty.

The irony? Many base services actually generate revenue. Closing them during shutdowns often costs more money than keeping them open would.

Veterans’ Benefits: Potential Delays and Disruptions

VA hospitals continue operating under advanced appropriations, but other veteran services face growing backlogs:

• Disability claims: Processing slows by 40% during extended shutdowns
• Education benefits: GI Bill payments delayed up to 3 weeks
• Burial services: Scheduling delays at national cemeteries

The VA’s ability to maintain core services provides only partial relief, as many veterans rely on multiple federal programs simultaneously.

How Veterans Can Prepare for Shutdown Impacts

Experts recommend veterans take these steps before a potential shutdown:

1. Confirm direct deposit information with the VA
2. Request 90-day medication supplies from VA pharmacies
3. Download benefit verification letters in advance
4. Identify community resources for emergency needs

The Long-Term Costs of Government Shutdowns

Beyond immediate pay concerns, shutdowns create lasting damage to government operations:

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the 2025 shutdown is costing $6 billion weekly in lost economic activity—funds that could cover a year of border wall construction or military housing improvements.

What’s often missed in shutdown debates is the innovation drain. The government loses months of research momentum every time laboratories and tech projects go dark.

Historical Context: Comparing Recent Shutdown Impacts

Modern shutdowns show evolving patterns in operational continuity:

• 2013 Shutdown (16 days): Military death benefits temporarily suspended
• 2018-2019 Shutdown (35 days): Coast Guard missed paychecks
• 2025 Shutdown (ongoing): Broader essential personnel protections

Each shutdown establishes new precedents for which services get maintained, gradually reshaping federal operations during appropriations lapses.