Military personnel and their families are increasingly relying on food pantries as a prolonged [situation] generates financial uncertainty for their households, even after President Donald Trump [stated] he would secure funds to compensate troops this month.
Advocates note that military households are particularly affected during shutdowns because many military spouses work for the federal government, which can leave both primary earners without a paycheck. Military spouses also frequently encounter high levels of [job insecurity] due to the constant relocation demands of the service.
Service members are scheduled to be paid on October 15th, but despite Trump’s announcement, many are still seeking aid.
Monica Bassett, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry, an organization assisting military members and their families, reports an “unprecedented increase in need since the shutdown commenced.” She highlighted a 300% rise in individuals seeking help at its physical location in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
She described the sharp escalation in people requesting assistance as “humbling and heartbreaking to witness.”
The food pantry’s national delivery service received 410 new applications for support within just 10 days, an increase Bassett said surpasses their usual total for an entire quarter.
“That’s nearly a 9x increase in our application rate, and it reflects both the urgent need families are facing during the government shutdown and the trust they place in us to stand in the gap with dignity and compassion,” Bassett explained.
a nonprofit supporting armed service members and their families, recorded a 30% increase in food demand across its 22 locations, and a spike of 34% at its Killeen, Texas, location on October 2nd, the day after the shutdown began.
“We do this day in and day out, but I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit concerns about the financial impact on nonprofits to address this need,” stated Dorene Ocamb, of the ASYMCA. “This is going to cost us $60,000 more per week to try to—emphasis on trying to—meet the demand. Right now, we can meet that need, but I worry about sustainability.”
Ocamb observed that during her visits to the food pantries since the shutdown, she also noted a change in demographics. Typically, their clientele consists primarily of families. However, since the shutdown, Ocamb remarked, “all bets were off.”
“Almost two-thirds of the people requesting services were entirely new clients, and many single soldiers were appearing because their [superiors] instructed them to,” she said.
President Trump announced on Saturday that he would instruct [officials] to “use all available funds to get our Troops PAID” by October 15th, their regular payday.
Trump has attributed the uncertainty regarding military pay to “radical” Democrats, even as Republican lawmakers rejected the proposal of voting on a standalone bill to release the salaries, in an attempt to pressure Democrats to yield on subsidies and end the shutdown.
The Trump Administration will reportedly distribute unused funds from the Pentagon’s 2024 research and development budget to cover military salaries on October 15th, according to [sources].
But Trump’s announcement has not eased anxieties.
“The announcement that President Trump authorized pay for October 15th is welcome news in the short term, but the details remain unclear: when payments will reach bank accounts, how long it will last, etc,” Elizabeth Jamison, an advocate, military family member, and founder of Military Families for Ethical Leadership, told TIME. “That lack of clarity merely adds to the anxiety for families already facing hardship.”
Jamison points out that a [challenging job market] for military spouses means that many of these families depend on a single paycheck, which is now “in jeopardy.” Those who are employed are often federal employees, also concerned as the Trump Administration begins to roll out widespread layoffs during the shutdown.
“Many military spouses are federal employees or contractors and have experienced an employment rollercoaster all year with federal HR disruptions, and now find themselves facing furloughs or [layoffs], if they are fortunate enough to still be employed,” she explained. “So there is dual instability that is causing incredible turmoil for these families and public servants who simply wish to contribute to their country.”
Jamison argues that since the Department of Defense’s budget is “massive,” the level of food insecurity among military members is already “unacceptable.” This situation only exacerbates that existing need.
“It shouldn’t be the case that nonprofits and community organizations have to serve as the safety net for those in uniform,” she continued. “Congress can and should immediately pass a standalone bill to resolve the military pay issue and remove this unnecessary stress and uncertainty for military families, who already contend with the unique demands of military life.”
On Thursday, a military spouse telephoned C-SPAN to criticize House Speaker [unnamed] about the potential of a missed paycheck.
“If we experience a lapse in pay come the 15th, my children will not receive the medication needed for them to live their life, because we live paycheck to paycheck,” the caller informed Johnson.
Johnson responded that [unnamed political opponents] are the ones that are preventing you from getting a check.”
