What Veterans and Active Duty Military Should Expect From the Government Shutdown

When Washington runs out of spending authority, the military keeps working, but the paycheck pipeline can clog. Veterans Affairs keeps core services going thanks to advance appropriations, but some support functions slow or pause. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more those stopgaps fray.

For the record, the last government shutdown ran from December 22nd, 2018, to January 25, 2019 (35 days). It was the longest in US history.

What keeps running for veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs built in insurance after past budget fights. VA medical care is funded in advance, and major benefits like disability compensation, pensions, and education payments are mandatory spending. That means clinics stay open, prescriptions are filled, and GI Bill checks continue even during a funding lapse