As the government shutdown continues, military personnel may face the possibility of missing their upcoming paycheck, which is due on November 15. This troubling situation arises as the stopgap funds that have been utilized to pay active-duty service members are beginning to dwindle. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted the urgency of the matter in an interview with CBS on October 26, stating, “I think we’ll be able to pay them beginning in November. But by November 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid.”
Despite being classified as essential federal employees, active-duty service members have been working throughout the shutdown, which began on October 1. Their salaries have been managed through redirected funds, but these sources are rapidly depleting. With over 1.3 million active-duty troops potentially facing a pay discrepancy, the need for a resolution is urgent.
The Trump administration has previously managed to pay service members during the shutdown by relying on a combination of legislative and Department of Defense funds, amounting to $5.3 billion. Of this total, $2.5 billion was sourced from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with additional funds drawn from the Pentagon’s procurement and research development accounts. Furthermore, a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally was also confirmed by President Donald Trump, though experts suggest that this contribution will have limited impact given the scale of military salaries.
Bessent did not shy away from calling the situation an “embarrassment,” attributing the blame for the shutdown to congressional Democrats. The political landscape has been charged, with both parties exchanging accusations regarding the ongoing deadlock. In a glimmer of bipartisanship, several Democratic senators joined Republicans on Sunday to approve a procedural measure aimed at temporarily funding the government. However, the bill still requires a final Senate vote before advancing to the House of Representatives, a process that could stretch over several days.
In a strong statement on October 11, President Trump expressed his commitment to ensuring that military personnel are compensated. He directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to utilize all available funds to ensure troops are paid, emphatically asserting that he would not allow the military budget to be held hostage by political disputes.
The uncertain timeline surrounding the passage of the funding bill raises concerns about the upcoming payday for service members. As the deadline approaches, the hope remains that a resolution will emerge to avert further financial strain on those who serve the nation. The potential for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the impasse offers a glimmer of optimism in what has been a challenging political situation.