After a record 43-day federal government shutdown, President Trump has signed a funding bill that reopens the government and sends hundreds of thousands of federal employees back to work. The bill funds most agencies at current levels through January 30, 2026, while providing full-year funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Agriculture, military construction and Congress.
Here’s what the next 72 hours are expected to look like for service members, families, and veterans, based on what major outlets and government statements are reporting today.
Federal Workers Back on the Job — and Back Pay Starting to Flow
The White House budget office has instructed furloughed federal employees to report back to work starting Thursday, kicking off a rapid “reboot” of federal operations.
Roughly 670,000 federal workers were furloughed and another 730,000 worked without pay during the shutdown; the new law guarantees back pay for all of them. Agencies are aiming to process payroll quickly, with several outlets reporting that paychecks for furloughed workers could start arriving by this weekend, though some employees may see delays depending on agency and pay systems.
For military families with federal civilian spouses, this means:
- Expect normal hours and services at most on-base and nearby federal offices to resume over the next few days.
- Back pay should arrive automatically, but it’s worth monitoring LES/pay statements closely and flagging any issues to your agency or HR office as soon as systems are back online.
What It Means for Troops, PCS, and Separations
Throughout the shutdown, the Pentagon shifted funds and issued temporary policies to keep pay flowing and protect benefits, including short-term extensions for troops nearing separation. The Army extended some soldiers by 45 days, and the Air Force and Space Force extended a smaller group by 60 days to preserve pay and benefits during the funding lapse.
With the government now reopening, here’s what to expect in the next 72 hours:
- Pay: Regular military pay should continue without interruption; any oddities in mid-month pay that cropped up during the shutdown are likely to be corrected as finance offices catch up.
- Separations/retirements: Those who were involuntarily extended should start to see updated separation timelines once personnel offices fully reopen. If you were affected, plan to check in with your S1, MPF, or transition office by early next week.
- PCS orders & travel: Moves that were frozen or delayed should begin working through the pipeline again, but there may be a backlog. If you had PCS orders on hold, contact your installation transportation or assignments office for updated guidance.
On-base quality-of-life services that were under threat if the shutdown continued, like commissaries and some dining facilities, should now avoid the worst-case closure scenarios, though it may take a few days for staffing and supply chains to fully normalize.
VA Care and Benefits: Mostly Stable
Because VA has its own advance appropriations and now receives full-year funding in the new spending package, core services such as health care and disability compensation continued during the shutdown and are now fully funded for the rest of the fiscal year.
Key points for the next 72 hours and beyond:
- Health care: VA medical centers and clinics remain open. Any appointments that were postponed due to local staffing or shutdown-related disruptions should start to be rescheduled as administrators get clear guidance and staffing stabilizes.
- Disability and GI Bill payments: Existing benefits appear to have continued, but some veterans felt uncertainty around new claims and appeals during the shutdown. That work will now restart, with a risk of backlogs as staff dig out from six weeks of limited operations.
- VA staffing: The Senate’s VA spending bill ties funding to specific staffing targets to prevent deep workforce cuts, even as the department pursues reorganization. That should help stabilize staffing in critical care and benefits roles.
If you have a pending claim, appeal, or community-care referral, the next 72 hours will mostly be about VA employees returning, logging back into systems, and triaging the stack of work that accumulated during the shutdown.
SNAP, SBA Loans, and Other Benefits Many Military Families Rely On
The reopening also flips the switch back on for several programs that directly affect military and veteran families:
- SNAP (food stamps): The administration has said full SNAP benefits will be restored very quickly, with some reports indicating distributions within 24 hours of reopening and most states catching up within a few days.
- SBA loans and veteran small business support: The Small Business Administration has continued to provide support during the shutdown and will continue to process new loans and assistance, which is a big deal for veteran-owned businesses that have felt stuck in limbo during the shutdown.
- Other federal aid: The funding bill extends Agriculture and nutrition programs through September 2026, ending short-term uncertainty for food assistance and rural programs heavily used by military families and veterans.
If your household uses SNAP, WIC, SBA loans, or similar programs, you should start seeing agencies update websites, hotlines, and local offices with fresh guidance over the next couple of days.
Travel, TSA, and “Everyday” Federal Services
Air travelers have felt the shutdown acutely. Staffing shortages among unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA officers have already produced widespread delays and cancellations; experts warn that even with the government back open, it could take weeks for the system to fully recover, including into the Thanksgiving period.
For the next 72 hours, assume:
- Continued delays and cancellations as airlines and the FAA work through reduced flight schedules.
- Gradual reopening of national parks, museums, and other federal sites; some Washington, D.C. museums are targeting reopening by early next week, not immediately.
What to Do Right Now
For military members and veterans, the practical moves over the next few days are straightforward:
- Monitor your pay and benefits dashboards (MyPay, VA.gov, eBenefits, etc.) for updates and corrections.
- Call your local VA clinic or hospital if you had an appointment canceled or delayed — slots will go fast as they clear the backlog.
- If you were extended on active duty due to the shutdown, make an appointment with your career counselor or transition office to confirm your updated timeline.
- If you rely on SNAP or other federal assistance, watch for state notices about restored benefits and disbursement dates.
- If you’re a veteran small business owner, reconnect with your SBA district office or small business counselor as loan and certification pipelines reopen.
The shutdown is over — but for troops, families, and veterans, the next 72 hours are about making sure systems really catch up with the promises now written into law.
