When Washington Reopens: What It Means for Your Pay and Your Household

BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front

The government is fully reopened. Pay, benefits, and base support programs are returning to normal operations. This is the moment to review your LES, rebuild your financial buffer, and follow up on anything delayed during the shutdown.

Situation Report

Washington’s funding deal ends several weeks of uncertainty that affected military households nationwide. While pay continued, the potential for processing slowdowns created stress for families trying to plan ahead. With the government restored, DFAS and personnel offices are clearing outstanding administrative actions.

Across installations, base programs are resuming full staffing levels. Childcare centers, family support offices, and legal services are reopening their appointment books and working through backlogs. The next few weeks may be especially busy as families catch up on delayed needs.

TSP operations continued through the shutdown, but some administrative requests were delayed. With staffing restored, contribution changes, rollover approvals, and loan actions should process on normal timelines again. Members who paused contributions should reassess allocations and long-term plans.

Many families relied on savings or short-term credit during the shutdown. This reopening period is a chance to stabilize your budget, rebuild reserves, and ensure your financial routines are back on track before the next unexpected event occurs.

Mission Plan: Steps to Take Now

• Review your LES to confirm pay, BAH, BAS, and special pay postings are correct.
• Check that TSP contributions and allocations match your long-term goals.
• Follow up on pending reimbursements, bonuses, or housing adjustments submitted during the shutdown.
• Rebuild your emergency fund if you used savings to manage uncertainty.
• Restart any paused allotments or automated savings and transfer routines.
• Schedule appointments early with base support programs before congestion increases.

Tactical Takeaways

• Even with protected pay, shutdowns can disrupt timing. A strong buffer is essential.
• Checking your LES after large administrative disruptions helps catch errors early.
• Base services may be temporarily crowded. Early scheduling helps secure faster appointments.
• TSP processes are returning to normal. Review your investment decisions while the system is stable.

Call to Action

Use these resources to strengthen your plan and brief your family on how to stay financially prepared.