Lights turn off on Coast Guard as emergency funds run out during shutdown

Published April 30, 2026 11:36am ET | Updated April 30, 2026 11:36am ET



The U.S. Coast Guard is moving toward an operational crisis as emergency funding runs dry during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now in its 75th day, the longest in U.S. history.

More than 6,000 unpaid utility bills have left Coast Guard operational units and military housing across the country facing shutoffs of electricity, water, and natural gas.

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