Financial assistance options for mitigating lapse in appropriations impacts

  • Published
  • By 319th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
  • 319th Reconnaissance Wing
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  

Editor's note: This article was updated Oct. 28, 2025 to reflect additional resources available to service members and Dept. of War civilian employees affected by the ongoing lapse in appropriations. 

Financial security of the Total Force and their families is critical to mission readiness. There are many resources available to Airmen, Guardians and their families regarding financial literacy, emergency relief and fraud/scam education. 

Situations like lapses in appropriations offer bad actors an opportunity to target military members and their families with fraudulent loans and extortion schemes. 

See the list below of resources and contact your Chain of Command if you are experiencing financial difficulty to be connected with reputable and reliable relief resources.
 
•    There are multiple food pantries in the greater Grand Forks area Airmen, Guardians and their families can request assistance from. You can find a consolidated list, with contact information, on our website HERE
•    Many banks and credit unions including USAA, PenFed and Navy Federal are offering 0% interest loans for military members and dependents with existing direct deposits. You must apply for many of these loans.
•    The state of North Dakota is offering the Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program for DoW civilian employees and military members whose pay is impacted.
•    Military OneSource Military Leaders Economic Security Toolkit – helps leaders and service providers support the economic security of service members.
•    Air Force Personnel Center Personal Financial Readiness Program – helps Airmen, Guardians and family members by providing foundations at the beginning of their career and developing across the continuum to improve financial literacy.
•    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides comprehensive education to many different types and forms of scams, and how you can protect yourself and your family.
•    The Air Force Aid Society provides support for emergent needs related to (but not limited to) basic living expenses, vehicle expenses and childcare costs affecting Airmen and Guardians. They are currently not offering loans directly related to the lapse in appropriations and will release guidance if mid-month paychecks are affected. 
•    You can request aid through the Military and Family Readiness Center, call (701) 747-3241for more information.
•    The Red Cross may also provide assistance to Airmen and Guardians experiencing a unique and emergent hardship.
•    The U.S. Department of the Treasury has current alerts for tax scams, consumer alerts, foreclosure rescue scams, and other ongoing financial scams and schemes to keep aware of.
•    Operation Home Front is designed to provide short-term financial help for military families who are experiencing financial hardship. To find out if you qualify, review their eligibility criteria.
•    MilLife Support is a Military One Source program specific to families with special needs.
•   The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help with heating and cooling utility payments during an energy crisis. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, and every state/territory has unique requirements.
•   USA Cares is an emergency assistance program focused on cases where financial stress is related to military service. They offer assistance with immediate, essential bills, food insecurity and utilities assistance.

Airmen and Guardians experiencing food insecurity can seek food security-related grants and loans with referrals from First Sergeants and the M&FRC, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Family Supplemental Subsistence Allowance Program. The 211 Help Line is a free, confidential connection to thousands of Health and Human Services programs for housing, food, mental health resources, and more. Contact your Chain of Command if you are in need of food security resources and don’t know where to start.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management advises federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. Eligibility is determined by state law. OPM has also created sample letters for federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders and utilities to request assistance during the shutdown. Airmen or DoW civilians living off base should contact their leasing companies, landlords, or mortgage lenders as soon as possible to discuss possible impacts and options.

Residents of Grand Forks AFB privatized housing will not incur late fees or fines if BAH payments are delayed. Any DoW civilian employees or residents impacted by the government shut down should call the Management Office at (701) 594-8000.