If lawmakers don't enact Congress doesn't pass a Homeland Security budget by Friday, the Coast Guard will be forced to is in danger of having to reduce its operations, Coast Guardsmen members will have to work without pay, and disbursements for retirees will be suspended.
Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft issued that dire warning Monday on the official blogs of both the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security's official blog Monday, as the House and Senate argue over proposed fiscal year 20156 spending for the department, which has been deadlocked over the Obama administration's push to reduce deportations of undocumented immigrants.
The Coast Guard is operating under a continuing resolution that expires Feb. 27, Zukunft said, and if it does, it will have far-reaching implications.
"If our appropriations lapse, Coast Guard men and women standing watch globally will not be paid," he said. " Further, over 6,000 valuable Coast Guard civilians — or nearly three quarters of our total civilian workforce — will be furloughed. Again with no guarantee of pay."
There will also be consequences for the American public, he explained.
"Although Coast Guard men and women will continue to protect life and property at sea and preserve national security interests because of the oath they took, a lapse in funding will require the Coast Guard to curtail operations in several key mission areas, including routine law enforcement patrols and facility inspections; fisheries enforcement; mariner licensing and credentialing; certain vessel inspection and waterways management activities; and recreational boating safety," he said.
A clean, fully funded budget for the entire year is the only way to keep the Coast Guard's missions out of jeopardy, he said.
Zukunft is expected to further address the budget in greater detail Tuesday at the service's annual State of the Coast Guard address.
