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A potential government shutdown by October 1 could delay pay for active-duty service members and essential civilian defense personnel. While government employees are guaranteed back pay, military members require separate legislation to ensure timely payments during a shutdown. A bill to address this is unlikely to pass before the deadline. Financial institutions like Navy Federal Credit Union and USAA plan to offer special loans to affected military personnel, mirroring past support. The Defense Department has outlined contingency plans prioritizing key operations and maintaining essential civilian staff, with most medical services remaining available.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.