As Washington’s budget standoff drags on, 1.3 million active-duty service members are still caught in the crossfire of political dysfunction. With a government shutdown stretching ever closer to October 15, the men and women who defend this nation could soon be working without pay. This outcome for military pay is something millions of Americans view as flat-out unacceptable.
Military Pay: Trump says “We’ll Take Care of It”
President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that a standalone bill ensuring military pay during the shutdown “probably will happen.” He added, “We don’t have to worry about it yet. That’s a long time… One week for me is an eternity. We’ll take care of it. Our military is always going to be taken care of.” These remarks, first reported by Axios on October 8, show Trump’s intent to prevent pay gaps for troops even as Congress stalls.
While Trump’s comments offered reassurance, they also underscored a troubling truth. Protecting the pay of America’s armed forces has become a sanctimonious bargaining chip in a political standoff, a scenario intimately tied to military pay issues.
Military Pay: Johnson Rejects Standalone Bill
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he will not call a separate vote to guarantee pay for military personnel. He argued the House already handled that issue through a continuing-resolution (CR) funding bill. The Democrats refuse to sign the CR.
“Of course, we want to pay our troops and our air traffic controllers and our border patrol agents and TSA, and everybody else,” Johnson said. “We did have that vote in the House.” Military pay is effectively entwined in these ongoing discussions.
Johnson has blamed Senate Democrats for failing to pass the House version. He insists they could end the shutdown immediately by approving that measure. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are trying to construct a “piecemeal” government reopening. The struggle continues over who holds the line on military pay issues amidst the crisis.
This belligerent fight is responsible for the government shut-down. The majority of the American people voted for less government, less waste, and less abuse of power, among other things. Although Congress has cut some big government and waste to date, it seems the abuse of power is still alive and well.
Pressure From Both Sides
43 House Democrats, out of 259, sent a letter urging Johnson to recall lawmakers before next Wednesday to prioritize ensuring payment for those serving in the military. Former Navy helicopter pilot, and now Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), introduced the Pay Our Troops Act on October 8, 2025. She echoed that message, saying:
“Military pay should not be held hostage due to Washington’s dysfunction.”
Her plea reflects a rare bipartisan frustration related largely to military pay concerns. Both parties are at serious risk of alienating the military community and the American public by allowing this stalemate to continue.
Military Pay: An Unacceptable Threat to National Security
For soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines — all required to work regardless of political stalemates — the possibility of missing paychecks, connected to this broader military pay issue, is beyond unacceptable. They have families to feed, like the rest of us. It’s a disgraceful reflection of how far Congress has strayed from its duty to the people and to those who defend them. What would happen if military personnel strayed from their duty and stopped defending us?
Every lawmaker who claims to “support the troops” must prove it now, not after political theater plays out. No disagreement over spending justifies holding military families hostage to such uncertainties.
As Americans watch this shutdown unfold, one question echoes across the country:
If Washington can’t pay its own defenders, who exactly are they serving? We must call for an end to this abuse of our military personnel. Let us and your Representatives know what your thoughts are!
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