'Unacceptable': Coast Guard's top officer criticizes lack of payment in government shutdown

[Mountain Mule]

Source: The Washington Post

The Coast Guard’s top admiral said Tuesday that members of the armed forces should not be expected to shoulder the burden of the partial government shutdown, citing the “anxiety and stress” it is causing military families as their pay is withheld.

Adm. Karl Schultz, the Coast Guard commandant, said that he is heartened by the outpouring of support Coast Guard personnel have received across the country but expects more.

“Ultimately, I find it unacceptable that Coast Guard men and women have to rely on food pantries and donations to get through day-to-day life as service members,” he said, speaking on a video posted to his Twitter account.

The comments marked the admiral’s most forceful remarks about the shutdown since it began 32 days ago amid a dispute over President Trump’s demands for funding for a southern border wall. While the majority of the U.S. military is part of the Defense Department and has funding, the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies, including the Coast Guard, are affected by the shutdown.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/01/23/unacceptable-coast-guards-top-officer-criticizes-lack-payment-government-shutdown/?utm_term=.ae251fdb15b3

---

I am glad to see a high ranking officer of the Coast Guard finally speaking out! Can you imagine if the Army or Navy had been impacted the same way? Cadet Bone Spurs belongs at the bottom of a Bayou somewhere.

[left-of-center2012]

1. Watch your back !

Expecting Trump to tweet about this.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

2. Thanks to Admiral Schultz for calling out the Twit and his shameful shutdown.

Just saw this from a Google search:

"One of five military services, the Coast Guard has protected the U.S. since 1790."

Just shameful that these men and women who protect our coastlines are treated so shabbily by Individual 1.

[RHMerriman]

3. Always Ready...

The Coasties deserve better; BZ to Adm. Schultz.

[Merlot]

4. No one should work without pay, regardless of the job.

If he's implying that the Coast Guard be some how excluded from not getting paid while others go without pay, that's just wrong, and sets a dangerous precident.

republicans want to privitize every government service. They'll be willing to start with non-military, but rest assured they won't stop short of the military.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "Can you imagine if the Army or Navy had been impacted the same way?"

They were actually affected during the 2013 shutdown, and that is when Congress started cherry-picking funding bills to eventually bring them (and their civilian workforce) back up and running again, leaving the rest of us out there hanging for almost 3 weeks.

[TomSlick]

6. The Admiral knows his duty.

The first duty of a commander is the people of the command.

Semper Paratus.