I don’t usually dive into hot-button issues in my writing, but the ongoing national budget impasse has me fired up. With my husband’s Navy retirement just eight months away, the ripple effects on our family—and countless other military households—are simply inexcusable. I’m grateful that, even without a passed budget, he received his paycheck last week. But let’s break this down with some basics to highlight why this situation feels so unjust.

Firstly, my husband has no choice but to show up for work every day, or he risks serious consequences under 10 U.S.C. § 886 (Art. 86: Absence Without Leave), which could even lead to imprisonment. Despite the uncertainty around pay during the shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, he’s fulfilled his duties without hesitation. He’s setting an example for his colleagues, fellow sailors, and the entire team that depends on him. Yet, on top of his regular responsibilities, his workload has ballooned because some civilian employees haven’t shown up. Where’s the sense of TEAM in that? What about basic work ethic? And isn’t it a core principle that if you don’t show up, you don’t get paid, as outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act?

This brings me to the irony of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, passed by the 116th Congress in 2019. This law ensures that furloughed federal workers receive back pay once the shutdown ends. But how is that “fair” when they don’t work and still get compensated, while active-duty personnel like my husband must report in—potentially absorbing extra tasks from those absences—without the same flexibility? If these government employees aren’t deemed mission-essential during a crisis like this, it raises a valid question: why do their jobs exist in the first place? I think these furloughed positions highlight the inefficiencies in federal staffing—leaving essential workers to pick up the slack. It’s a double standard that stings, especially when military families are already navigating so much uncertainty.

The shutdown’s impact extends far beyond paychecks, hitting essential services and events on our base. For instance, several key activities listed in our quarterly base magazine have been canceled this month. Take the October 22 Job Fair and the Budgeting & Spending Workshop—both struck through and officially off the calendar. These cancellations couldn’t come at a worse time, with the military spouse unemployment rate hovering around 23% (Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey 2024). A job fair is a lifeline for spouses, who often feel invisible in the job market due to frequent moves and other barriers. Similarly, amid the stress of potential unpaid bills, a budgeting workshop could have equipped families with tools to manage their finances better during this chaos.

Then there’s the October 23-24 Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Career and Credential Exploration class, which is still up in the air—M&FRC will decide on Monday, October 20. We know this because we called to register, as it’s a crucial step in my husband’s retirement preparation. Unlike other TAP classes held monthly, this one isn’t; if canceled, rescheduling could take who knows how long. These disruptions aren’t just inconveniences—they amplify the emotional and practical toll on transitioning families.

As a business owner, I’ve felt the shutdown’s reach in my own work too. Right before it hit, I was pursuing SBA certification and had been in touch with my application advisor. But since October 1, communication has gone silent—no responses to my questions about required documents. I’m left in limbo, unable to move forward, which stalls my growth and adds to the frustration.

Experiencing these effects firsthand underscores how much control the government wields over our lives, often with special rules that seem to benefit them alone. The budget isn’t a political game; it has real, serious consequences for everyday people. We all need to speak up—if lawmakers can’t pass a budget on time, why are we electing them? Beyond that, perhaps broader reforms like term limits for politicians could help curb these recurring power plays. It is time to stop the games.

I’d love to hear from you: How has the 2025 shutdown impacted your family or business? Share in the comments—let’s build awareness together.

Originally published on LinkedIn on October 20, 2025. [Read it here]