Excepted Activity

Mar 4, 2026 — Comic #358
A document reads, “Coast Guard Activities During a Lapse in Appropriations: During a government shutdown, Coast Guard members and units may only engage in essential activities as explicitly authorized by law.” A Coastie on deck reads it while missiles streak overhead and fires burn on a desert coastline: “Ma’am, is World War III an essential activity?” An offscreen voice answers, “Yes!”

Due to a lapse in appropriations, you’d better duck

Read the transcript

Coast Guard Activities During a Lapse in Appropriations / During a government shutdown, Coast Guard members and units may only engage in essential activities as explicitly authorized by law. / Any activities not deemed “essential” must be halted immediately until such a time as funding is restored, with the exception of those necessary to effectuate… / Ma’am, is World War III an essential activity? / Yes!

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