WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant said active duty service members are now working without pay in the waters off the Florida coast and beyond.
This comes two weeks after the Coast Guard gave a one-time emergency payment to service members on Dec. 31.
Senator Rick Scott spoke out about it on Wednesday saying he supports the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, which ensures military men and women are paid while they are defending and protecting our nation.
41,000 U.S. Coast Guardsmen have learned they will not receive their regularly scheduled paychecks on Jan. 15. This is according to a letter written by admiral Karl Schultz, the coast guard commandant.
He tweeted Tuesday saying - "this marks the first time in our nation's history that service members in a U.S. armed force have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations".
Admiral Shultz goes on to say he recognizes the anxiety coast guard members and their families are feeling.
He had one silver lining to offer, the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance has received a $15 million donation from USAA to support these men and women.
Admiral Shultz says the *American Red Cross will help distribute these funds to our military and civilian workforce.
He closes the letter saying stay the course and serve with pride.
The Department of Homeland Security, which the Coast Guard is a part of, is not funded during the government shutdown.
Other military branches fall under the Defense Department which already has funding approved.
