Published: November 12, 2025
While the exact number of National Guard and Reservist members who have not received their pay during the 2025 government shutdown is unknown, it is estimated that around 30,000 ‘dual-status technicians‘ — full-time civilian employees who also serve in uniform with the Guard or Reserve — have been affected since the end of September 2025.
Jenny Akin, Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak Collaborative with Blue Star Families, told the American Homefront Project:
“I’m going to see if I can talk about this without choking up,” Akin said as she related an anecdote from one family. “They have one car, and that car needs to be used by a person who is going to a job every day, and the spouse who’s at home can’t even get to the food pantry to get the food.”
Stress on military families is widespread, Akin said. Blue Star Families’ internal polls have shown that 73 percent of respondents are reporting stress or worry, up from 60 percent at the beginning of the shutdown.
If you are a member of the National Guard/Reserve or a family member, you may find the following resources helpful.
- National Guard Relief Foundation (NGRF) – Provides emergency financial relief and essential resources to Guard members and their families across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
- Military OneSource – Offers 24/7 confidential assistance, including financial counseling, non-medical counseling, family support, and more.
- The National Guard Family Program – Each state and territory has a state family program director, staff, and volunteers to carry out the program’s vision of enhancing the quality of life for National Guard members, their families, and their communities. Locate your state and Family Assistance Center here.
For more resources, check out our Government Shutdown Resource Hub. We’re in this together.
Posted In: Government Shutdown