News

03.18.2026

From Crisis to Confidence  

Rethinking Financial Resilience for Coast Guard Families On a Tuesday morning in Alaska, a petty officer checks his bank account before leaving for work. His car needs a new transmission. His spouse lost her job during their last PCS move. Childcare costs more than rent.  None of these problems are unusual for Coast Guard families. What makes them dangerous is when they happen […]

11.13.2025

When the Coast Guard Needed Support, CGMA Delivered — With Speed, Scale, and Compassion. 

The federal government is poised to reopen after the historic 2025 shutdown — the longest in U.S. history. For hundreds of thousands of federal workers, this moment brings tremendous relief. For the last 43 days, uncertainty loomed large. Coast Guard civilians missed two paychecks, faced rising bills, and made hard choices — but our Coast […]

03.18.2026

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Riding 2,000+ Miles for Coast Guard Families

At 70 years old, Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, USCG (Ret.), is taking on an extraordinary challenge, not for himself, but for the Coast Guard community. Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, USCG (Ret.), the first African American to achieve the rank of vice admiral in the Coast Guard, is cycling from Key West, Florida, to […]

04.15.2026

The Shutdown Didn’t End When Pay Resumed

What the 2026 Government Shutdown Revealed About Financial Stress At 5:30 a.m., a Coast Guard civilian employee in Houston gets ready for work. He helps direct vessel traffic in one of the busiest energy ports in the world, responsible for $1 trillion in economic activity each year. The Houston port system depends on him being sharp, […]

10.14.2025

Community Update: CGMA Ready to Help During Government Lapse

October 14, 2025 The Coast Guard has confirmed that military members will receive their mid-month paycheck for October 15, with deposits expected between October 15–17. Read the official announcement here. CGMA continues to review and process requests for help. If the government shutdown continues and affects the November 1 paycheck, CGMA is ready to respond […]

10.10.2025

When Pay Stops, We Don’t

CGMA Ready to Bridge the Gap As the government shutdown continues, I know many of you are anxious about what the coming weeks may bring. It’s now likely that the October 15 paycheck will not arrive on time. That uncertainty hits hard — I’ve been there, and I remember exactly how it feels. I want […]

10.07.2025

A Lifeline in Crisis: How CGMA Stepped Up for the Holmes Family

Compassion Meets Urgency For PO2 Bradley Holmes and his wife, budgeting and saving had always been part of their plan. But when a sophisticated scam emptied their checking and savings accounts overnight, everything changed. Their mortgage was due. Their pantry was empty. “We didn’t know where to turn,” Bradley said. “It felt like the ground […]

10.01.2025

On Watch. Always Ready. Always Here.

If shutdown results in a pay halt, CGMA is here to help The partial government shutdown in December 2018/ January 2019 resulted in the single largest relief effort in CGMA history as the Coast Guard workforce experienced work without pay. During this 35-day period, CGMA’s incredible team delivered $8.4 million in assistance to 6,200 Coast […]

09.03.2025

CEO Update – Fall 2025

As the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) is fully prepared for what are often the most challenging months of the year for our community. These storms can strike without warning—uprooting families, damaging homes, and creating immediate, urgent needs. Thanks to your continued generosity, CGMA stands ready to respond at […]

01.06.2026

CEO Update – Winter 2025

Our Coast Guard community is relying on CGMA more than ever — and we’re showing up. As of December 8, CGMA has already delivered $8.5 million in loans, a 54% jump from 2024 and another $3.1 million in grants.