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NGAUS has been busy since the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1 informing Congress and the press on the harm the lapse in appropriations is doing to National Guard readiness and Guard Soldiers and Airmen and their families.
Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president, issued the following statement on the impact of the shutdown on the National Guard:
“The continuing government shutdown is uniquely hard on the Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard.
“We have thousands of full-time Guardsmen nationwide who wear their uniform and rank every workday but, unlike their active-duty brothers and sisters, they have yet to be paid in October.
“They are Dual-Status Technicians, a special classification of federal government workers. To us, they are Soldiers and Airmen, indistinguishable from those on active duty and essential to everyday force readiness.'
LETTERS TO CONGRESS
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: Congressional leadership
Ask: Outlined the harms of a continuing resolution and encouraging the passage of fiscal 2026 appropriations or in the event of a shutdown to pass Pay our Troops Act (H.R. 5401).
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, AGAUS, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: Senate National Guard Caucus Leadership
Ask: Requested introduction and passage of a Senate companion legislation to the Pay our Troops Act (H.R. 5401).
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, AGAUS, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: House Appropriations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member
Ask: Requested passage of the Pay our Troops Act (H.R. 5401).
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, AGAUS, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: Hill leadership
Ask: Reinforced the harms of a continuing resolution and identifying the first date of missed pay Oct. 15. The letter reinforced previous efforts to pass Pay our Troops Act (H.R. 5401).
Author/Signatory: NGAUS
Recipient: Senate Republican leadership and Sen. Ron Johnson
Ask: Support for Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3012) and request amendment for inclusion of Active Guard Reserve personnel and dual-status technicians.
Oct. 28
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, AGAUS, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: Congressional leadership
Ask: Requested the passage of a continuing resolution or a stand-alone bill to pay Active Guard Reserve personnel, Navy Training and Administration personnel, technicians, and drilling Guardsmen and Reservists.
Author/Signatories: NGAUS, AFA, AUSA, MCA, ROA, EANGUS
Recipient: Congressional leadership
Ask: Urged the end of the shutdown.
WRITE TO CONGRESS
NGAUS members have sent 9,361 emails on the impact of the shutdown to their elected representatives through the Write to Congress feature at www.ngaus.org. TAKE ACTION HERE!
TELLING THE STORY
NGAUS has also generated stories on the National Guard since the shutdown began in local and national media outlets.
Punchbowl News: Will Congress Move to Pay Troops
USA Today: Government Shutdown Means Some Troops Won’t Get Paid
The Hill: Pressure grows on Johnson to hold vote on military pay
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Some Troops Won’t Get Paid Until Shutdown Ends
WMAR-Baltimore: Government shutdown leaves 33,000 National Guard members working without pay
Reno Gazette-Journal: Furloughs, work without pay — US shutdown hits Nevada National Guard
USA Today: Hegseth wants a fitter military, but significant barriers hold back part-time troops
Cleveland.com: Part-Time Troops, Full-Time Controversy, National Guard at Center of Power Struggle
NewsNation: Military fitness standards met with some praise — and some pushback
PRESS RELEASES
Sept. 30: NGAUS, EANGUS, ROA: Looming Government Shutdown Would Have ‘Severe Consequences’
Oct. 21: Shutdown is ‘Uniquely Hard’ on the National Guard A Statement from Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn (Ret.)
Oct. 28: Guard, Reserve Associations to Senate: End the Shutdown or Pay All Involved in Force Readiness
