While Washington debates funding and politics, others are making far more consequential decisions.
Life-or-death decisions.
Just weeks ago, Tyler Jaggers, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, deployed on a mission to save a distressed mariner off the coast of Washington. He did what Coast Guard rescue swimmers do—he went into danger so someone else could live.
He never came home.
Petty Officer Jaggers died from injuries sustained during that rescue mission. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His story is not just one of extraordinary bravery—it is a reminder of what service to this country truly demands.
And it underscores a hard truth: service does not stop when government funding does.
The Mission Continues—Even When Washington Doesn’t
Right now, in the middle of a government shutdown, Coast Guard men and women are still deploying, still rescuing, still protecting this country.
They are interdicting drugs.
They are securing ports.
They are launching into dangerous waters when others call for help.
They are doing all of this while operating under uncertainty created not by the mission—but by Washington.
Because unlike other military branches, the Coast Guard is funded through the Department of Homeland Security. When funding lapses, the consequences are immediate and real.
Even when temporary fixes are put in place, the uncertainty remains.
Families are left asking:
Will the paycheck come?
When will it come?
How long will this last?
That is not a question any service member—or their family—should ever have to ask.
This Is Not a Policy Debate—It’s a Failure of Responsibility
We often talk about shutdowns in abstract terms—budgets, negotiations, leverage.
But for those serving, there is nothing abstract about it.
A missed or delayed paycheck means real consequences:
- Mortgage payments due
- Groceries that still need to be bought
- Childcare that must be paid
And all of it happening while their loved one is still standing watch.
That is not just inconvenient.
It is unacceptable.
Others Are Stepping Up—But They Shouldn’t Have To
In the absence of certainty from Washington, others have stepped in to fill the gap.
Credit unions across the country are doing what they have always done—helping their members weather difficult moments through emergency loans, deferred payments, and financial support.
Some have gone even further.
Keesler Federal Credit Union, for example, has implemented a Paycheck Relief Program that advances full paychecks to impacted federal workers—ensuring families can continue to meet their obligations without disruption.
According to Keesler Federal, during a previous shutdown the credit union advanced more than 5,000 paychecks—totaling over $6 million—to help more than 1,700 families stay financially stable.
That kind of leadership matters.
But let’s be clear: it should not be necessary.
Financial institutions—no matter how mission-driven—should not be forced to backstop the federal government.
Leadership Is a Choice
What we are seeing right now is a study in contrast.
On one side, you have institutions like Keesler Federal choosing to step in, remove barriers, and deliver certainty when it matters most.
On the other, you have a federal funding process that continues to allow uncertainty to fall on the very people we ask to serve.
Leadership is not complicated.
It is a choice.
- To act instead of delay
- To solve problems instead of manage them
- To put people ahead of process
The Coast Guard lives this every day.
Credit unions are demonstrating it in real time.
Congress must choose it as well.
The Real Issue: Funding Should Never Be in Question
At its core, this is not about financial services.
It is about governance.
The United States asks extraordinary things of its Coast Guard:
To deploy into danger.
To respond when others cannot.
To save lives without hesitation.
The least we can do is ensure that their pay—and their families’ financial stability—is never in question.
Yet time and again, shutdowns create the same cycle:
Uncertainty.
Disruption.
Stress placed on those who can least afford it.
This is not a new problem.
Which means it is a solvable one.
Congress Must Act—Now and Permanently
Congress has the tools to fix this.
Not temporarily.
Not reactively.
But permanently.
Funding the government is the first and most immediate step. The longer this shutdown continues, the greater the strain on those still serving.
But beyond reopening the government, lawmakers must ensure that Coast Guard pay—and the pay of all essential personnel is protected from future shutdowns altogether.
No more uncertainty.
No more gaps.
No more asking service members to carry the burden of political gridlock.
A Moment That Demands Clarity
The story of Petty Officer Tyler Jaggers should put this debate into perspective.
He did not hesitate when called.
He did not ask whether conditions were ideal.
He did not wait for certainty.
He acted.
That is what service looks like.
Now the question is whether Washington will do the same.
Because while Coast Guard members continue to stand the watch, Congress must meet its most basic responsibility: ensuring the government functions and those who serve are supported.
The Bottom Line
We cannot claim to honor service while allowing uncertainty to define it.
We cannot praise sacrifice while failing to provide stability.
And we cannot continue a system where those willing to give everything are left wondering when their next paycheck will arrive.
Fund the government.
Protect Coast Guard pay.
Choose leadership.
Because those who serve this country should never have to wonder if their country is standing behind them.
Jason Stverak, Chief Advocacy Officer, Defense Credit Union Council
