Representatives from six Veterans groups held a rare press conference on Tuesday calling on Congress and the Trump administration to reach an agreement to reopen the federal government, as an ongoing partial shutdown enters its 25th day—the longest ever.
BJ Lawrence, VFW’s national commander, noted that the Coast Guard is “very much impacted by the shutdown” as well as 800,000 federal employees, “a third of whom are veterans.”
“Federal government employees missed their first paycheck last Friday,” said Lawrence. “Today, more than 41,000 active duty Coast Guardsmen missed theirs.”
The VFW has already distributed more than $45,000 in emergency grants to help Coast Guard families struggling to make ends meet, a need, Lawrence said, he expects to increase.
Rege Riley, AMVETS’ national commander, urged the administration and Congress to find common ground.
“We find it unfortunate they’re unable to receive their paychecks to be able to pay their bills, like all of us need to do and have to do,” he said. “We ask the president and the Congress get your act together, and get this situation resolved.”
But the organizations stopped short of taking sides in the shutdown debacle over a proposed border wall along the southeastern United States.
“We don’t feel it’s in our position to take sides in the matter,” added Lawrence of the wall. “What we’re merely calling for is for our elected leadership and the administration to get together and work out a way to end the partial government shutdown.”
“IAVA does not take a position on whether border security is a part of this; however, we will point out that ironically those who are standing on the border within (the Department of Homeland Security) are veterans,” added Melissa Bryant, chief policy officer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
“We’re taking the border security—the wall—out of this.”
READ: Coast Guard did not get paid today; DHS Secretary says she's working to resolve the issue
When asked about the personal stories of financial destitution, Lawrence referenced a furloughed veteran single mother of three who is unable to find child care, and as a result, is having trouble finding work.
“She approached a landlord to ask for some consideration of during the partial government shutdown on her rent being due,” he said. “She was denied that consideration.”
Facing eviction, Lawrence said she was looking into moving in with family members.
Resources
Representatives from Disabled American Veterans said if a veteran has a financial hardship, they can apply for grants at any of their national service offices that are co-located inside VA regional offices.
Bryan said IAVA is activating their Rapid Response Referral Program, where veterans and active duty troops facing hardships can get connected with resources they may need.
John Ostrowski of the Coast Guard Chief and Petty Officers Association said the group is putting together food banks and accepting donations for Coast Guard families in need.
Still, the groups are hopeful that elected leaders of both parties can come together for the good of the nation and end this shutdown.
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