Government Shutdown Undermines National Guard Readiness and Military Transitions

As the ongoing government shutdown enters its third week, the real frontline fallout is showing—not on foreign soil, but within America’s own National Guard and active-duty military ranks. While politicians bicker in Washington, more than 30,000 National Guard technicians remain unpaid since late September. These essential civilian-military hybrids handle critical daily tasks like training coordination and equipment maintenance. Without them, unit readiness suffers a blow that will echo long after the shutdown ends. Why should every American care about this internal military turmoil? The National Guard is often our first line of defense during domestic emergencies and plays a vital...