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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 3, 2025) — Six military associations that represent a combined 1.8 million members urged congressional leaders Friday to restore federal funding.
The associations warned continued inaction is jeopardizing military readiness and the well-being of service members, defense civilians and their families. “Our troops and military readiness are beginning to suffer” from the shutdown, which has entered its second month, they said.
The six associations are:
• National Guard Association of the United States
• Air & Space Forces Association
• Association of the United States Army
• Marine Corps Association
• Reserve Organization of America
• Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
The letter is available here. It went to Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the Senate Majority Leader; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the Senate Minority Leader; Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the Speaker of the House; and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the House Minority Leader.
“While every component of the U.S. military has been hit hard by the shutdown, it has been especially hard on the National Guard,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president.
“We have technicians who are critical to the daily operation of our units. They’ve been working since Oct. 1 without pay,” McGinn said. “In addition, most of our drill-status Guardsmen are missing unit training assemblies. Readiness is suffering and Guard families nationwide are wondering how they will pay their bills.”
Some troops did receive their Oct. 31 pay, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that funds may not be available to cover Nov. 15 paychecks. That will only increase the anxiety and suffering across the force.
“At $8.5 billion a month, the military payroll crisis is too large for charities or public generosity to overcome,” the letter adds. “Were every American to contribute $20 to offset the cost of military payroll, that would still be too little to cover a month’s military pay. Only restoring federal funding can solve this problem.”
Added McGinn: “Service members should not be a bargaining chip when negotiating the federal budget.”
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on Guard requirements. Today, 147 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.
