Active-duty military personnel could face delays in their paychecks following the Senate Democrats’ decision to shut down the government indefinitely.
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, U.S. military members have been temporarily furloughed. The uncertainty around their pay has raised concerns, with about 1.3 million active-duty soldiers likely not seeing their first paycheck during this ongoing budget lapse. Democratic leaders have emphasized that it’s the Republicans’ responsibility to avoid payroll issues, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and most of his party have turned down a straightforward funding package aimed at reopening the government.
Republican leaders have strongly criticized their Democratic counterparts for allowing the shutdown, particularly due to its impact on military families. As funding expired on Friday, many federal workers received only a portion of their paychecks.
“The atmosphere here in the Capitol is not good. It’s a gloomy day,” Speaker Mike Johnson remarked during a House Republican leadership press briefing. “Today marks the first day that federal employees nationwide will get only part of their paychecks, which is a direct result of Democratic obstruction. This will be the last paycheck for 700,000 federal workers until Washington Democrats choose to fulfill their responsibilities and reopen the government.”
“Next week, American service members, many of whom rely on every paycheck, will stop receiving their full salaries,” Johnson continued. “If Democrats don’t resolve this by Monday, the implications will kick in on October 15.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also criticized the idea that military personnel might be unable to receive their pay because of the shutdown, labeling it as “beyond common sense.”
This situation would mark a historic first, as active-duty military members would fall behind on their paychecks.
Speaker Mike Johnson noted that President Trump is exploring options to ensure military pay is protected. Meanwhile, a senior White House official indicated to the Daily Caller News Foundation that the administration is considering all possible legal measures to support troops throughout the “Democratic Shutdown.”
Military charities are noticing a spike in requests for financial help as families become increasingly anxious about missing wages. Kathy Ross-Duque, CEO of Blue Star Families, shared insights with CNN, revealing that less than one in three military families have savings exceeding $3,000.
The Army’s official charity has already distributed over $7 million to active-duty soldiers who may not receive their paychecks on October 15, while Air Force charities are experiencing a surge in requests for assistance. It has been reported that these charities have “millions in potential funding” available for Air Force personnel facing pay issues.
Sean Ryan, a spokesperson for Army Emergency Relief (AER), mentioned that since October 8, over 6,000 individuals have opened AER accounts, with over 90% expected to seek financial aid. AER’s online services faced complications due to high traffic, leading to temporary suspensions.
“Currently, we’re queuing applications on our portal to ensure timely payments on October 15,” Ryan stated. “We have a reserve of $50 million, but we are prepared to adjust if necessary.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans during a Friday press conference, arguing they are not truly committed to military funding amid the shutdown.
“They’re not serious about reopening the government. They don’t appear focused on paying active-duty soldiers,” Jeffries told the media. “I stand ready to engage with my Republican colleagues to formulate a spending agreement that extends the Affordable Care Act tax credits, addresses health care issues, reopens the government, pays the military, and benefits hardworking federal employees.”
Jeffries has consistently urged Democrats to reject a complete stopgap funding proposal to avoid disrupting military pay. The minority leader, along with nearly all House Democrats, voted against a bill intended to prevent funding challenges in September.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune continues to urge rank-and-file Democrats to break away from Schumer and back a bipartisan funding bill to lift the shutdown. Just five additional votes from Democrats could bring the government back to operational status.
“All that’s needed is for five Democrats to join us in support of the bill, and we’ll end this situation,” Thune told PBS News Hour. “That’s the most effective way to resolve this issue.”
