Pressure is increasing on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to reconvene the House for a vote aimed at ensuring military pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
President Trump mentioned in comments to reporters that a separate military pay bill is likely, while a bipartisan effort to ensure military personnel receive their pay is gaining traction in the House.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), who chairs the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, saw the military payments bill signed into law this week.
“We can engage in policy and political battles in Congress, but we can’t ask military members to put their lives on the line without compensation,” Calvert stated, emphasizing the necessity of prioritizing national security and military personnel. “This should be a non-negotiable point.”
He indicated that the ideal outcome would involve Democrats passing a straightforward continuing resolution (CR) from Republicans, despite GOP reluctance to negotiate on extending Obamacare subsidies.
The bipartisan initiative introduced by Rep. Jen Quiggans (R-Va.) has garnered support from 148 House members, which includes 104 Republicans and 44 Democrats.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson pointed out that, should soldiers not receive their paychecks by October 15, more than 1.3 million active military personnel would be affected, with some family support programs also decreased due to the shutdown.
During a CSPAN appearance, Johnson took a call from a woman identifying herself as a Republican military mother. She expressed that her family would face dire consequences without pay, as “we live paycheck to paycheck.”
“Please, pass this bill. My children could die,” she urged. Johnson expressed understanding and placed the blame on Senate Democrats for halting the Republican-sponsored Continuing Resolution (CR) meant to reopen the government until November 21.
“This keeps me worried: Republicans are advocating for you. We supported paying our troops. This was a CR just three weeks prior,” Johnson remarked. “It’s the Democrats who are preventing you from receiving your paycheck.”
Many federal active duty Guard and Reserve personnel, as well as those on full-time active duty, also find themselves without pay. This includes Guard troops dispatched to various U.S. cities and the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump administration.
“At the moment, soldiers can’t expect a check by mid-month,” stated John Goheen, spokesman for the National Guard Association of America (NGAUS). “This is going to cause stress, particularly for younger troops who primarily rely on that paycheck for essentials like rent or car payments.”
He noted that financial uncertainty can distract service members from their duties. “It interferes with their focus to explain to families back home when their money might arrive. They have no clear answers.”
NGAUS, together with other military associations, conveyed their concerns in various letters to lawmakers earlier in the week. They called for “immediate passage” of Quiggans’ bill, arguing that requiring service members to serve without pay damages morale and puts a strain on military families.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson stated he was ready to reconvene the House of Commons to vote on specific legislation ensuring payments for air traffic controllers and military personnel. However, on Wednesday, the Speaker indicated he would reject the bill, suggesting that Democrats sought another chance to record their support for military funding.
When asked if he would promote a standalone bill for military payments, Trump responded: “Yes, probably.” He expressed concern over the situation, stating that a week feels like a long time, and reassured that the military would be taken care of.
During a Cabinet meeting, Trump criticized Democrats for blocking the Republican-led CR, arguing that the shutdown affects not just military personnel but also everyday Americans, including air traffic controllers and struggling families.
The White House did not immediately provide feedback regarding Trump’s stance on the military pay legislation.
Inquiring about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s view on Quiggans’ bill, the Pentagon suggested that passing the CR would be the most effective course of action. “While the Department of Defense supports eliminating pay discrepancies for active-duty service members, the priority must be a clean continuing resolution to end the Democratic shutdown,” Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson noted.
Senate Republican leaders have voiced their opposition to the idea of calling the House back for a standalone bill vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for claiming that Democrats were in a favorable position as the shutdown persists.
“Is this really getting better for the troops who aren’t being paid, or for air traffic controllers and Border Patrol agents?” Thune questioned during an interview, emphasizing that this situation isn’t trivial.
In a letter on Wednesday, Democratic Reps. Derek Tran from California and Gabe Vazquez from New Mexico urged Johnson to bring the House back to vote on a bill ensuring military payroll. “Our military risks their lives protecting our freedoms. They deserve our support, and I’m committed to advocating for the pay our troops rightfully earn,” Tran stated.
On Thursday morning, Johnson criticized Democrats as more than a dozen prepared legislation to demand a vote on the standalone bill. He claimed that the Democrats seemed desperate to distance themselves from their previous votes against military pay.
“Look at their actions, not just their words,” Johnson concluded, pointing out the inconsistency in their stance on military funding.
