Government Shutdown Raises Concerns for U.S. Troops’ Pay
Reports indicating that U.S. troops might not be compensated due to the ongoing government shutdown have caused anxiety among service members. President Trump has assured that they will be paid, but Congress must act swiftly to pass essential funding legislation by Monday in order to ensure that payroll is processed in time for the usual mid-month payday.
According to congressional aides speaking to Reuters, the necessary bill would need to be approved by October 13 for soldiers to receive their paychecks on October 15.
As seen in previous shutdowns, the military continues to be operational because its function is deemed critical to national security.
The shutdown initiated on October 1 after two-thirds of the Senate could not agree on a continuing resolution to fund the government, mainly over issues regarding Affordable Care Act premiums.
By Thursday, the Senate had seen at least seven failed votes. More than 750,000 federal workers are now on furlough.
President Trump expressed willingness to support an additional bill to ensure troop compensation until a resolution can be reached in the Senate.
“We will deal with it,” Trump stated on Wednesday. “Our military is always here for you.”
The active-duty members of the U.S. military number around 1.3 million, along with hundreds of thousands from the National Guard and civilian workers employed by the Department of the Army. It’s expected that military personnel will receive back pay once the shutdown concludes.
The effort to secure military funding isn’t solely a presidential initiative.
Representative Jennifer Quiggans (R-Va.) put forth the Military Pay Act on September 16, but it failed to pass before the shutdown commenced. The proposed legislation aimed to authorize continued military salary payments during government shutdowns or when funding is ineffective.
The National Military Family Association mentioned in a Facebook post that around 35,000 letters have been sent to Congress advocating for the approval of HR5401, the “Military Pay Act.”
A previous bill ensured military paychecks during the 2013 government shutdown.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that military personnel are seeking bridge loans to navigate potential pay interruptions, with some lenders implementing Paycheck Protection Programs. Navy Federal Credit Union has already received applications for assistance during this period, similar to when it supported roughly 19,000 individuals with loans exceeding $50 million during the last shutdown in 2019.
A long-serving U.S. Air Force official commented, “The reason we’re not getting paid is because the people in Washington, D.C., who are getting paid, aren’t on the same page.” He further stated, “Not only are we working without pay, but we’re doing a lot more without pay, since many of our civilian colleagues are on furlough. This situation isn’t good for unit morale.”
