While Coast Guard members can't talk openly about their concerns, their spouses have plenty to say.

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — Without an agreement on government spending this week, local Coast Guard families won’t see a paycheck Friday.

The United States Coast Guard is one of the official branches of the military, but because they’re considered part of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense, pay is being withheld until after the government shutdown.

While Coast Guard members can’t talk openly about their concerns, their spouses have plenty to say.

Ashley Totten says missing one paycheck for her family is about all they can tolerate. After that, then things get out of control when it comes to budgeting for their home and most importantly their son’s medical bills.

“It’s ridiculous that we’re having to beg for our voices to be heard for our voices to be heard for our spouses, who regardless will be going to work whether this bill is signed or not,” said Totten.

The Pay Our Coast Guard Act was introduced in 2016, but Sen. John Thune (R-SD) would make it so Coast Guard members will not lose out on any pay during a government shutdown.

Congress gave it one last effort Thursday evening to end the shutdown, but couldn’t agree over President Donald Trump’s demands for border wall funding.

Unless any emergency meetings are proposed, the government shutdown will now stretch until Democrats gain control of the House in the beginning of the 2019.

That’s more than 40,000 active duty and 8,000 reservists who now may turn to their savings or even loans as a way to pay for their homes in the beginning of the month.

It’s a show of disrespect in the eyes of Erin Picou, who says her husband should have the same benefits other military personnel have been offered.

“The Coast Guard goes to work every single day and protects our country the same. Congress has decided that they can afford to not pay us,” Picou said.

Katie Pugh’s husband joined the Coast Guard more than 21 years ago and she says this is the first time they’ve ever been concerned about getting the check they need.

Vienna Julien’s husband has been serving for just over four years, but says her savings is almost all gone thanks to Hurricane Harvey. As for options, she’s run out.

“To me it seems unfair and unnecessary that we have to take out loans, when this is our money,” said Julien.

The roundtable of four women was originally supposed to be five, but as Totten explains, every Coast Guard family is now very careful about how they spend over the next few days.

“They’re not going to spend the extra money, when they don’t know if they’ll have it tomorrow,” said Totten.

Every Coast Guard member will be given back pay for days worked during the shutdown, but in the meantime financial institutions like the USAA have offered low interest loans to cover any expenses.

The one-time 12-month personal loan carries an interest rate as low as 0.01% APR, with a minimum loan amount of $2,500.

On Facebook however, frustrations with the loans continues to grow over USAA charging interest while other banks promise no interest loans.

Picou says the strict requirements for getting the loan in the first place has made members like her second-guess any further banking with the group widely used by Coast Guard families.