Coast Guard Members Face Paycut Threat as DHS Shuts Down, House Republicans Urge Trump

A coalition of over a dozen House Republicans has urged President Donald Trump to ensure Coast Guard members receive their paychecks as the Department of Homeland Security remains in a partial government shutdown.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, wrote to the president on Friday asking for action similar to what his administration took during last year’s government shutdown to secure military paychecks.

In their letter, the Republicans stated: “As a result of the current partial government shutdown, members of the United States Coast Guard — who serve under the Department of Homeland Security — are once again working without pay. These dedicated men and women continue to carry out critical homeland security missions.”

They emphasized that Coast Guard personnel safeguard our shores, secure ports, interdict illegal narcotics, protect maritime borders, and conduct lifesaving search-and-rescue operations. The letter noted that more than 41,000 active-duty and activated Reserve Coast Guard members risk missing their next scheduled payday on February 27 if the Department of Homeland Security does not receive appropriations.

Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed DHS appropriations bill for the current fiscal year last week after their demands for changes to immigration enforcement were not met. Funding for immigration enforcement was established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the shutdown has halted funding for other DHS components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration.

The letter further stated: “The Coast Guard is an essential branch of our armed services, and its members should never be used as leverage in partisan disputes. It is deeply concerning that Coast Guard personnel are being placed in this position due to political brinkmanship by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [D-N.Y.], House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries [D-N.Y.], and other Democratic leaders who are choosing to play politics with our homeland security.”

The Republicans referenced last fall’s government shutdown, when the Trump administration directed the Pentagon to use “all available funds” within the Department of War to cover military paychecks, including billions in unobligated research, development, test, and evaluation funds from the prior fiscal year.

In their letter, the lawmakers urged: “On behalf of the constituents we represent, many of whom serve in or directly support the Coast Guard, we respectfully urge you to once again use every authority at your disposal to ensure that these dedicated servicemembers do not miss a paycheck.”

The letter was signed by Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (New York), Claudia Tenney, Nick LaLota, and Nicholas Langworthy; Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vernon Buchanan, and Randy Fine (Florida); Jeff Van Drew (New Jersey); Tony Wied (Wisconsin); Michael Cloud (Texas); Nicholas Begich (Alaska); and Pete Stauber (Minnesota).

The White House has not yet responded to the letter.