Time is ticking away to resolve the issue of military pay during the ongoing government shutdown, with $8 billion allocated by the Trump administration set to be depleted by the end of the month.
Active-duty service members, including soldiers, sailors, and Air Force personnel, may not receive their paychecks after October 31. This comes after Senate Democrats declined to support a bill proposed by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) aimed at ensuring pay for military and federal employees working amid the shutdown.
As the shutdown enters its fourth week with no resolution in sight, Congress faces increasing pressure to secure additional funding to ensure troops are compensated.
Rep. Jen Quiggans (R-Va.), a former Navy helicopter pilot, expressed her gratitude for the previous payments but raised concerns about the timing of future funding. She introduced the Armed Forces Pay Act last month, which has not made much progress.
On October 11, President Trump instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to use $8 billion allocated for Pentagon research and development to cover mid-month salaries for service members. However, the cost for the upcoming pay cycle is projected to be around $6.5 billion. This leaves just $1.5 billion available as the October 31 payday approaches, which is expected to cost between $6 billion and $7 billion, according to Todd Harrison from the American Enterprise Institute.
“The initial funds drawn from the RDT&E account were enough for the October 15 payroll,” he mentioned.
Harrison noted that there are additional accounts with leftover funds from prior years that the Pentagon could potentially use. However, he cautioned that this might lead to a situation where funds are shuffled around without a sustainable solution. “It’s just transferring from one place to another,” he said.
The Department of Defense has not commented on whether they have found alternative funding sources.
Lawmakers across party lines are increasingly worried about the impending deadline. A vote on Johnson’s bill to assure pay for essential federal employees, including military personnel, failed 54-45.
Notably, Georgia Democrats Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock joined Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) to support Johnson’s bill, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act, which needed 60 votes to pass.
Although federal workers would receive back pay once the government reopens, the bill intended to provide interim relief to those going without pay in the meantime.
Despite this, Democrats continue to advocate for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and are pushing for negotiations to break the deadlock, arguing that such tactics could prolong the shutdown.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson’s proposal as a “ruse,” asserting it could grant the White House too much control over which federal workers are compensated and who remains furloughed. “We won’t allow Trump to play politics with people’s livelihoods,” he emphasized.
Instead, Democrats are backing a bill from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) aimed at paying all federal employees during the shutdown, which also faced obstacles on Thursday.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) voiced his opposition to Johnson’s bill, insisting on equal pay for all essential workers, including those in agencies like ICE and TSA.
Complicating the situation further, the Senate will adjourn from Thursday afternoon until Monday, while President Trump plans a multi-day trip to Asia starting Friday.
When asked about alternatives if military pay isn’t resolved by October 31, Johnson mentioned that Trump has “limited latitude” to reallocate funds. “He has authority over only so much money,” he stated, adding some urgency to the situation.
This development follows Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s unsuccessful attempt to advance a separate Pentagon budget bill last week, which was blocked by Democrats.
Looking forward, Republicans may seek to compel a vote next week to fund military personnel, air traffic controllers, TSA employees, and crucial nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program before their upcoming deadlines.
