Coast Guard operating in "crisis" as shutdown halts pay, strains missions overseas

The U.S. Coast Guard cannot pay its bills. The military branch – now 75 days into the longest shutdown in U.S. history – owes over $300 million in unpaid obligations. And with thousands of utility bills overdue, totaling $5.2 million, duty stations and military housing worldwide are facing service shutdowns. "It seems like a horror movie, but it's actually happening. It's almost unbelievable," Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday told CBS News in an exclusive interview. "Suddenly, the lights go out" Undated photo: Station Channel Islands U.S. Coast Guard in California, was struck by water outages in April 2026 because of unpaid utility bills during DHS funding lapse. U.S. Coast Guard In the past week alone, water outages hit duty stations in Port Huron, Michigan, and Station Channel Islands, California. File: March 21, 2026. Air Station Barbers Point in Kapolei, Hawaii, had its natural gas lines temporarily locked because of unpaid utility bills during the DHS shutdown. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Robertson Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, had natural gas lines temporarily locked. A power outage at a recruiting station in St. Louis, Missouri, forced officers to operate by flashlight until electricity could be restored. Electricity was also cut off to the residence of a Coast Guard rear admiral in New Orleans, forcing his family to drive to a hotel until service was restored. …