Service members arriving at gates across the country this week are carrying more than duffel bags: they are bringing home anxiety about rent, prescriptions and childcare as a federal funding impasse threatens timely pay. With congressional negotiations stalled and some Department of Defense offices operating under contingency plans, families say the uncertainty is more damaging than any single missed paycheck.

"We signed up to protect the country, not to worry about paying the mortgage," said a Navy petty officer stationed at Naval Base San Diego, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retaliation. "My spouse works off base. If my check is late, we don't know how we'll keep the lights on."

The Pentagon has told military commands to continue mission-critical operations, and senior defense officials have emphasized that national security work will not stop. Historically, lawmakers have moved after shutdowns to provide retroactive pay to active-duty personnel. But officials concede that the flow of wages, benefits and some base services depends on the contours of any continuing resolution or appropriations bill Congress ultimately passes.

The immediate effects extend beyond payroll. Military treatment facilities and family support programs rely in part on civilian staff and contractors who could be furloughed during a lapse, potentially narrowing appointments for routine care, delaying mental health services and complicating access to specialty care for dependents. Commissaries and child-care centers, which many lower-income enlisted families depend upon, also face operational strain when funding is uncertain.

Those strains carry public health implications. Food insecurity, interrupted medication regimens and reduced access to behavioral health services can exacerbate chronic conditions and increase stress-related illnesses. Child development and schooling are at risk when child care and school transportation are disrupted, a particular concern for single-parent military households that are disproportionately female and lower paid.

Advocacy groups and military relief organizations are mobilizing. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Army Emergency Relief and similar nonprofit lenders say they are prepared to offer short-term grants and interest-free loans, but they warn demand will quickly outstrip typical capacity if funding is not restored. Local food banks and base assistance centers report spikes in calls seeking emergency help.

Lawmakers face political pressure to act quickly. Proponents of a stopgap funding measure argue for explicit language guaranteeing automatic pay for active-duty personnel during a lapse; opponents warn such provisions could undercut leverage in broader budget talks. "These are not abstract line items — these are people who must keep their families afloat," said one congressional aide familiar with the negotiations, speaking on background.

Beyond the immediate assistance, public health experts say the episode highlights structural inequities. Lower-ranked service members carry far less savings and heavier reliance on base services than officers, and families of color are overrepresented among the most economically vulnerable ranks. Long-term fixes could include statutory protections for pay and expanded eligibility for emergency benefits that automatically trigger when appropriations lapse.

For now, military families wait and plan for the worst: tightening budgets, delaying care and turning to strained community networks. "We serve willingly," the San Diego sailor said. "We just need the system to not forget us when it matters most.