A Letter on the Fear of Government Shutdowns

Economic UncertaintySupport & Resources
Written By Lael Cowell Anderson

My Dearest Friend,

The news blares and the headlines scroll, but what cuts deepest is not the politics—it is the pause in breath when you realize the paycheck may not come. For so many of us, the math does not bend. A single income stretched to cover a family, a home, the unexpected, and the ordinary. And when that income halts, even for days, the weight is crushing.

Due to deployments, geographical separations, or unpredictable work schedules, military spouses often carry the full weight of caregiving. That responsibility can limit our own employment opportunities, leaving many families reliant on one income—the very income that vanishes during a shutdown. Military spouses are already four times more likely to be unemployed than the general population, and the gap grows wider when we are asked again and again to shoulder what the military leaves undone.

The Lesson

We cannot soften the blow of politics beyond our control. What we can do is prepare in small ways—setting aside when we are able, leaning on the resources available to us, and most importantly, leaning on one another. Community cannot stop the storm, but it can hold us steady until it passes.

To the Spouse Staring at the Headlines

You are not overreacting. You are not weak for worrying. The fear you feel is valid, and you do not face it alone. Your strength is in your resourcefulness, your voice, and your quiet endurance. And when you cannot be strong, it is enough simply to reach for another hand to steady your own.

Yours in all sincerity,
A Kindred Spirit

Resources for Military Families During a Shutdown

Lael Cowell Anderson
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