A Letter on the Weight of the Government Shutdown

Economic UncertaintySupport & Resources
Written By Lael Cowell Anderson

My Dearest Friend,

We’ve moved past fear now.
The headlines have faded into background noise, but the uncertainty has not. Paychecks have stretched thin, benefits hang in limbo, and the quiet endurance of those who keep showing up — at work, in uniform, in spirit — has become its own kind of courage.

This is the long middle of a shutdown: where fear gives way to fatigue, and resilience becomes something quieter, steadier, and shared.

The Weight of Waiting

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from not knowing when something will end. It lingers beneath the surface — in conversations at the commissary, in careful grocery lists, in the way we check our phones for updates that never quite bring relief.

Across the force, families are adjusting and re-adjusting. Airmen are stretching savings and spirits. Civilians are balancing loyalty to the mission with the weight of unpaid days. And through it all, we keep hearing the same quiet truth: it shouldn’t be this hard to serve with heart.

But even here, in the in-between, the strength of this community hasn’t gone dark. It’s in the First Sergeants coordinating emergency relief and advocating for families behind the scenes. In the Key Support Liaisons organizing logistics — rallying donations, setting up temporary pantries, and keeping lines of communication open. In the Chaplains offering emotional and spiritual care, grounding communities through counsel, prayer, and presence. It’s in the countless acts of leadership and love that remind us: no matter the uniform or title, we take care of our own.

Readiness begins with people — in how we care for one another, in the places we gather, and in the ways we show up for each other.

The Lesson

Resilience isn’t infinite, but it is renewable when shared.
The long middle reminds us that support is a collective act — not charity, not weakness, but the foundation of who we are as a force. We say “service before self,” but service also means seeing one another — the spouses holding it together, the civilians still showing up, the Airmen carrying more than their share.

When one of us wavers, it’s the strength of the whole that steadies the ground.

To the Airmen, Civilians, and Families Holding Steady

If you’re feeling the strain this month, please reach out early — before the worry turns into crisis. Even as many helping agencies are impacted by furloughs, support networks remain active in creative ways. These resources can still help connect you to assistance:

  • First Sergeants & Command Teams: Your first line for immediate access to assistance and base-level coordination

  • Chaplains & Chapel Programs: Offering food support, emergency aid connections, and confidential counseling

  • Key Support Liaisons & Volunteer Networks: Coordinating donations, food drives, and community outreach

  • Air Force Aid Society (via First Sergeant or Command Team): Emergency financial assistance for eligible personnel

  • Local Food Pantries & Community Partners: Many installations, including ours, have temporary food and grocery support during shutdowns

If you’re unsure where to begin, reach out to your First Sergeant or Chaplain — they’ll connect you with the right local resources. You are not a burden. You are the reason these systems exist.

Even now — especially now — we are proof that readiness is not just a measure of mission success, but of mutual care. The long middle may stretch further than we hoped, but we do not walk it alone.

Yours in all sincerity,
A Kindred Spirit

Resources for Military Families During a Shutdown

Lael Cowell Anderson
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