The U.S. Coast Guard is committed to supporting our workforce and their families during the lapse in federal government funding. Here’s how you can stay informed, along with answers to the most commonly asked questions during a shutdown.
On the Web:
- You can visit the publicly facing MyCG website any time to find the latest FAQ, resources, announcements and messages from the Commandant and other senior Coast Guard leaders.
- General Messages approved for public release are available on MyCG’s homepage.
On Sharepoint (for those reporting to work)
By E-mail
- The MyCG team will send each shutdown announcement to your uscg.mil e-mail address.
- If you won’t be reporting to work, please consider signing up for the All Hands Briefer using your personal e-mail (you can unsubscribe at any time). The MyCG team will use that distribution list to send out shutdown announcements.
By Mobile
- The MyCG app is available in both Google Play and the iPhone App Store. (Please note that the app does not collect any user data.)
- On the app, click on News for all announcements and leadership messages about the shutdown. For General Messages, click on Messages.
- If you enable push notifications, you’ll get a text for new shutdown announcements. (Note - We don’t typically send push notifications, and will turn off this function after the shutdown ends.)
FAQs
Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions during a federal shutdown. This article will be updated as needed with additional FAQ throughout the shutdown.
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to reach out to your chain of command or immediate supervisor. Any other questions, comments, or suggestions can be submitted via Microsoft Form or e-mailed directly to LapseQuestions@uscg.mil.
What is a government shutdown and how will it affect the Coast Guard?
A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass appropriations or a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies and program. Once the funding lapses, in this case on Sept. 30, agencies must cease operations financed by those appropriations, except for functions that are legally required to continue.
The Coast Guard generally will continue operations authorized by law that are necessary for the safety of human life, protection of property, or national security. This includes emerging contingency operations like hurricane preparedness and response. The Coast Guard will also continue to focus on asserting presence and securing America’s borders.
How will I be affected?
It depends on which of the following categories you fall into:
- Excepted employees include all military members, plus anyone else whose work is considered essential to safeguarding life or property, or otherwise mandated by law. If you’re an excepted employee you will continue working during the funding lapse.
- Furloughed (non-excepted) employees are those whose functions are considered non-essential and whose pay is tied to appropriations. Furloughed employees will be placed in a non-duty, non-pay status and must stop working during the shutdown.
- Exempt employees are not affected by the lapse in appropriations because they are paid out of special fees or multi-year accounts.
- Contractors should check their status with their Contracting Officer Representatives.
What happens to pay?
Excepted employees work during the shutdown but may not receive pay until the government reopens. Furloughed employees do not work or get paid during the shutdown. But thanks to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA), both furloughed and excepted employees are guaranteed back pay once funding is restored. The timing of this pay depends on how quickly Congress acts to restore funding. Your benefits, such as health and retirement, continue during the shutdown period, although payroll deductions will stop until pay is restored.
Military Members' Pay: All Coast Guard military personnel have received a full paycheck covering the current pay period (ending Sept. 30). If a shutdown extends beyond Oct. 13, members will miss the mid-October paycheck. If a shutdown extends past Oct. 13, members will be paid about two days after the shutdown ends.
Below is a hypothetical example:
- If a shutdown were to occur from 01-21 October, military members would receive their missed mid-October paycheck on or about Oct. 23. They would also receive their full paychecks at end of the month in October (on time).
Note this is different than past shutdowns which occurred after a short-term Continuing Resolution. In these past situations, the Coast Guard was able to set-aside a portion of available funding to ensure we could cover at least one paycheck after a shutdown. In the current situation, the potential shutdown would occur at the very beginning of the fiscal year (Oct. 1); thus, there is no funding available to set aside for military pay.
Civilian Members' Pay: All civilian employees have received a full paycheck from Pay Period 18 (on or about Sept. 29). All civilians paid out of single-year appropriations (the vast majority of our civilian workforce) will receive approximately 70% of their Pay Period 19 paycheck on or about Oct. 16. Similar to the military workforce, there is a roughly two-day delay to receive back-pay once a shutdown concludes. Please note that exempt civilian employees funded from the Coast Guard Yard working capital fund and un-expired multi/no-year appropriations will be paid on time during a lapse.
Back-Pay: By law, all military and civilian personnel are guaranteed to receive back-pay once a potential lapse in appropriations concludes.
Military Retiree Pay: All retired military personnel (including Coast Guard) will receive pay on time during a government shutdown. This is because military personnel are paid out of a trust fund.
Will I work during a shutdown?
Military personnel are statutorily exempt and shall report to duty – as directed by their commanding officers, officers-in-charge, and supervisors – to support missions that are legally authorized to continue during an appropriations lapse.
Civilian personnel positions are categorized as exempt, non-exempt, or excepted. Exempt and excepted employees shall report to work as usual. Non-exempt employees will be furloughed. Your immediate supervisor should already have notified you of your status; if you are not sure, please contact your immediate supervisor.
What kind of duties am I expected to conduct during a shutdown?
During a lapse in appropriations, the Coast Guard may only conduct activities that are vital to national defense and safety of life and property.
- For guidance on support systems services, see ALCOAST 411/25 (CAC required) from the Deputy Commandant for Systems (DCS)
- For guidance on personnel support services, see ALCOAST 412/25 (CAC required) from the Deputy Commandant for Personnel (DCP)
- Operational commanders should review ALCOAST 413/25 (CAC required) from the Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO)
Do reservists have to drill during a shutdown?
Reserve ADT/IDT in support of excepted functions, including training to maintain proficiency, shall be in accordance with ALCOAST 413/25 (CAC required for access).
How does a shutdown impact the Coast Guard Auxiliary?
Auxiliary activity may only be performed if it is specifically ordered by a Coast Guard command in direct support of an exempt activity. Exempt activities are primarily limited to urgent Search and Rescue (SAR), Aids to Navigation (ATON) outages, and national security threats.
Will military medical and dental be available during a shutdown?
Yes, uniformed staff at regional healthcare practices will be available to provide services to eligible beneficiaries. Coast Guard clinics will continue to operate during the lapse. Additionally, all TRICARE services and coverage will be available for all eligible beneficiaries during the lapse in appropriation.
Where can I get support during a shutdown?
Employee assistance and military work life services remain available to the workforce and their families 24/7/365. The Military OneSource services are the gateway to trusted information, resources and confidential help for active-duty members and their families through Military OneSource or by calling (800) 342-9647. The Federal Occupational Health (FOH) Employee Assistance Program offers confidential support and resources for the well-being of civilian employees and their families through the https://www.foh4you.com site or by calling (800) 222-0364. Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocate Program Specialists will be available.
Will Coast Guard Child Development Centers remain open?
Yes, Child Development Centers will remain open to all enrolled.
Will galleys, commissaries, or exchanges be open during the shutdown?
Yes, the Coast Guard Exchange System will remain open. In addition, galleys will be open during a shutdown.
Am I expected to pay my bills during a shutdown?
During a lapse, Coast Guard members must continue to meet all civil obligations, including insurance, rent/mortgage, child care, and child support, regardless of the government’s ability to process payroll. If you have set up direct financial allotments through the Coast Guard payroll system, please remember that no funds will be transferred during a furlough. Remember to review your automatic payments and make any necessary adjustments. Creditors are not obligated to provide relief, so communicate with them quickly if you anticipate any temporary financial constraints.
Will retirees get paid?
Military Retirees and Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP) beneficiaries are not impacted by a lapse in appropriations and will continue to receive disbursements.
Will military members receive SGLI, Tricare, and medical Benefits?
All medical benefits and insurance premiums remain current. These will be processed and paid once payroll resumes after the shutdown. Both you and your dependents will continue to have access to your primary medical providers.
Will I get reimbursed for travel during the shutdown?
Members with orders for official travel will be reimbursed after the shutdown ends. To be paid as quickly as possible, submit your claims through ETS within three days of travel.
If you incur fees due to a class/orders cancellation (i.e., service fees/cancellation fees), you will be reimbursed after the shutdown ends. The Coast Guard and DHS will work with the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) bank, to prevent members from incurring delinquency and interest charges for travel if the lapse approaches 30 days. Commands shall handle account delinquency situations on a case-by-case basis. Travelers who have submitted a timely travel voucher but have not been reimbursed due to furlough, should not be subject to adverse action by the chain of command for account delinquency.
Will I get reimbursed for pre-shutdown travel?
Travel conducted prior to a lapse in appropriations will be reimbursed once the financial system re-opens after the shutdown.
Will military members be able to attend training during the shutdown?
Coast Guard Active Duty and Reserve members shall execute orders to Class "A" and Class "C" Schools during a lapse in appropriations unless otherwise advised by Education & Training Quota Management Command (ETQC). Active duty and Reserve members currently in attendance or in receipt of orders to Class “A” School or any enlisted or officer accession training shall continue training as planned.
Civilian employees in receipt of Class “C” school orders shall not execute those orders. Units shall send a cancellation notice to ETQC. Civilian employees currently in attendance at Class “C” school are responsible for contacting their supervisor to determine their status (i.e., exempt/non-exempt/excepted).
Auxiliarists will not be permitted to attend Class “C” school training on funded orders during a lapse. Auxiliarists may, however, attend Class “C” school training on no cost orders.
How does a shutdown affect tuition assistance?
Tuition Assistance (TA) applications will continue to be accepted during a lapse in appropriations. However, members should not assume TA is authorized until they receive their approved TA application from the ETQC. Students already approved and enrolled in courses will continue to receive TA.
Am I able to attend conferences?
Attendance at conferences during a lapse in appropriations is prohibited. This includes conferences that have already been approved by DHS prior to the lapse. Regardless of furlough status, no Coast Guard personnel may attend conferences during the lapse in appropriations either as an attendee or presenter. This prohibition includes no-cost local travel. Units requiring clarity on virtual attendance via teleconference shall obtain clearance from the Servicing Legal Offices and RMO/RA then send that request to CG-81 and CG-LGL for concurrence.
Can I fundraise for myself during the shutdown?
Federal employees may not engage in fundraising in an official capacity or in the federal workplace, except in limited circumstances (see 5 CFR 2635.702 and 5 CFR 2635.808).
Coast Guard employees have previously sought financial assistance through electronic “crowdsourcing” campaigns through platforms such as GoFundMe. Such campaigns raise a variety of ethics concerns and require careful planning to avoid violating ethics rules, employees are urged to always check with their Servicing Legal Office prior to launching a crowdsourcing campaign. Generally, federal employees or those related to federal employees may not use a crowdsourcing campaign to raise funds simply because they are in a non-pay status.
Federal employees are urged to check with their servicing legal office before engaging in fundraising or other functions that might violate a federal ethics rule.
What kind of outside support can I receive during a shutdown?
In general, employees/members can accept opportunities and other benefits provided by sources that are closely affiliated with the Coast Guard, such as the Chief Petty Officers’ Association (CPOA), local Spouses Clubs, and Auxiliary Flotillas. These sources may not discriminate amongst Coast Guard employees by official responsibility or on a basis that favors those of a higher rank or rate of pay.
Acceptable forms of support include:
- Restaurants offering free meals to local Coast Guard members
- Food bank offering groceries to all furloughed federal employees
- Cash grants from charitable organizations to all veterans impacted by a government shutdown
- Gift cards (cash equivalent and store) offered to all members of a Coast Guard unit
Unacceptable forms of support include:
- Gift cards (cash equivalent and store) offered to all members of a Coast Guard unit by the owner of an inspected vessel
- Offer of cash to just one or two persons at a unit from a local member of the community
- Free meals offered to a unit’s command cadre
Any command or member with questions of what support or gifts can be accepted should call their servicing legal office.
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