10/24/2025
⚠️ Shutdown Update: Day 23 for Military Families
***Shared Post***
💰 Pay & Financial Impacts: Failed votes and no signs of progress towards re-opening the government continues to cause stress across the military community. It is not just military paychecks that are in jeopardy. Many federal employees are now receiving their first zero-dollar paychecks of the shutdown. That includes our civilian teammates, DoDEA teachers, and the federal workers who keep our military communities running. In some cases, these professionals are working without pay. Families are tightening budgets and searching for trusted resources to bridge the gap. There are relief organizations specifically designed for federal employees, check with your networks, your bargaining union or websites like fedsupport.org
🧾 Resources & Financial Assistance: Relief programs remain active and available to help.
• Army Emergency Relief (AER): Now accepting shutdown loan applications to provide interest-free assistance to Soldiers and families affected by delayed pay.
• American Red Cross: Offering emergency financial support and coordination with military aid societies.
• American Legion: Temporary Financial Assistance through the Veterans and Children Foundation.
• Operation Homefront: Short-term critical financial aid for active-duty and veteran families.
• VFW Unmet Needs Program: Grants to help with housing, utilities, and food for military families.
• USA Cares: Emergency grants for rent, utilities, and essential needs.
• Stronghold Food Pantry and Armed Services YMCA: Providing groceries and essentials to military families.
• Military OneSource: Open 24/7 for confidential counseling, MilTax services, and financial coaching.
If you need food assistance:
📞 Call 2-1-1 to be connected with local food, rent, and utility resources.
🥕 Visit feedingamerica.org to find food banks in your area.
💊 Pharmacies & Healthcare: We continue to hear from families struggling to access prescriptions and care on installations. Many military pharmacies have reduced hours or are limiting medication availability. Some medications are unavailable completely. If your prescriptions are filled on base, now may be the time to transfer them to a TRICARE network pharmacy to avoid interruptions. TRICARE coverage remains active, but families may still experience longer claim processing times and delays in payments to civilian providers.
🏛️ Legislative Update: The Senate voted today on a bill to pay members of the Armed Forces on active duty and essential federal workers, and it failed to pass. Those who opposed it cited the fact that it did not include payment for all federal workers, including those who are currently furloughed. There are other versions of bills out there to pay our military and federal employees that are not yet scheduled for a vote, so we encourage anyone so inclined to continue reaching out to your elected officials and expressing your opinions and sharing your perspectives. Every voice matters.
💙 We continue to listen, respond, and share your stories. Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of vulnerability or support. It is OK to feel anxious and it is good to talk about it with people you trust. In the meantime know our team is doing all we can to raise the funds needed to support you.
Donate: combatmilitaryhunger.org
Make your voice heard: milfam360.org
