The Coast Guard was formed in 1790, though originally called the Revenue Cutter Service. One of my favorite things to do is remind my military friends that technically, it is the oldest continuous seagoing service as the Navy was disbanded following the Revolutionary War. I also like to further needle my Army friends by reminding them that technically (but really) they were disbanded, too, so aren’t we the oldest service? I’d argue it all day.
But, I digress.
The point is that coasties have been raising their hands and defending America next to its soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen since America was fully established in the ashes of its war for independence — in every foreign war and conflict, all while protecting the homeland every single day. They’ve died for it, too.
As I write this, we are on day 27 of the partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security, which the Coast Guard has fallen under since 2002 in the wake of 9/11. While the current war against Iran is being prioritized in the news media, the Coast Guard once again appears to take backseat in priority and importance despite fighting right alongside its DOW brothers and sister through units attached to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA).
They do this and more while wondering if they’ll get paid for willingly raising their right hands to serve their nation faithfully.
As a Coast Guard spouse of 18 years, it’s hard not to become frustrated and disenchanted with the legislative system and its leaders. This is now the fourth government shutdown that has impacted my husband in his 25 years of service. During the 2019-2020 lapse in appropriations, it led to building food pantries across the nation just to take away some of the financial burden on our families. We had to rely on the kindness of strangers and the support of nonprofits.
I’ll add, this occurred while congressional members continued to get paid.
Back then, we were encouraged to have garage sales and take on side jobs to make it through. Reading that suggestion should cause you to feel something. I recognize there are issues causing the current division and supposed reasoning for a shutdown in legislators’ minds (and votes) but always paying the people who keep our country safe should be something we can all agree on.
I’m used to the teasing and good-natured ribbing; it’s part of the makeup of the military community in my opinion. I don’t even mind educating people on the mission and scope of the Coast Guard. We know it’s the smallest service but that doesn’t mean their sacrifice and commitment is of any less value. I’ve had to correct college professors and have curriculum changed both at the undergrad and graduate levels during my educational journey because of the inaccuracy of how they portrayed the Coast Guard.
Without going too crazy I’ll simply say they have a multifaceted mission set that includes: Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Law Enforcement, Drug Interdiction, Illegal Migrant Interdiction, Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security, Defense Readiness, Marine Environmental Protection, Ice Breaking Operations, Aids to Navigation, Living Marine Resources and Marine Safety.
My background is social work and mental health, so I don’t presume to be an expert when it comes to our legislative process, the funding and the law. But what I do know for a fact is what spurred this current shutdown and with that I can say with full confidence that it is purely performative in nature.
Though the House was able to pass the DHS funding bill, the Senate requires 60 votes and on record it seems it’s mainly the Democrats (save one, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania) who are holding out on voting for the funding due to their position on wanting reforms on United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The problem and irony of their stance and the reason I call this shutdown performative? Both agencies are funded through 2029. But the Coast Guard, FEMA and TSA are not.
Though the Coast Guard was able to find funding to pay our service members on March 1, they are still actively looking for ways to do so again on March 15. But despite getting creative with accounting, the already understaffed service is being pushed to the max due to the number of furloughed and unpaid civilians, who it depends on to fill the gaps.
Current estimates indicate that 92% of the Department of Homeland Security is going without pay. We’re already seeing the skies become less safe and airports becoming overwhelmed due to understaffing. The shutdown is also squeezing programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children as well as SBA. It’s also impacting tourism and our country’s GDP growth, as a side note.
As we continue to navigate this shutdown and the stressors that come with worrying about pay, the Coast Guard community suffered an unimaginable loss.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers, an aviation survival technician (rescue swimmer) based at Air Station Astoria, Oregon, died on March 5, 2026, from injuries sustained during a high-seas rescue mission. Jaggers was injured on February 27 while responding to a medical evacuation 120 miles off the coast of Oregon. Though the investigation is ongoing, we know he was being lowered to rescue a man in distress when his cable broke and he sustained catastrophic injuries.
He was evacuated to British Columbia where medical staff fought to save him, but he was ultimately kept on life support and transferred to Joint Base Lewis-McChord so his crew members, friends, family and fiancé could say goodbye.
This loss has rocked us all. But grieving while coasties do everything to follow their creed of honor, respect and devotion to duty while fighting for pay stings. A lot.
I don’t know where this Op-Ed will go or who will read it, but I hope some of those readers include the constituents of the senators holding out on their votes for funding DHS. My goal is to humanize the shutdown and showcase the very real world consequences and impact of a government shutdown. I implore you to peacefully encourage your senators to vote in favor of ending the shutdown.
And to the senators who are actively fighting against funding DHS, there are better and more effective ways to encourage reforms and change. I promise you it isn’t through harming our families and making our nation less safe.
Until then, coasties will continue faithfully serving. Always ready – no matter the cost.
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