Pentagon: Troops May Miss Paychecks During Government Shutdown

Government shutdown troop pay/ military pay shutdown/ Pentagon warning shutdown/ troop holiday pay risk/ military furloughs shutdown/ WASHINGTON/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Pentagon warns that approximately 2.1 million military personnel could miss paychecks over the holidays if a government shutdown begins Friday. Essential defense civilians and active-duty troops would continue working without pay, while thousands of non-essential workers face furloughs. Congress has yet to agree on a resolution to fund the government.

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Troop Pay at Risk: Pentagon Sounds Alarm Over Potential Shutdown

Key Highlights

• No Pay for Troops: About 2.1 million active-duty military personnel won’t receive paychecks if the government shuts down.
• Essential Workers: Over 365,000 defense civilians will work without pay; another 435,500 face furloughs.
• Congress in Deadlock: Lawmakers scramble to find a resolution before Friday’s midnight deadline.

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Pentagon: Troops May Miss Paychecks During Government Shutdown

Deep Look

Military Paychecks at Stake

The Pentagon has warned that a government shutdown could leave U.S. troops unpaid during the holiday season. Despite the lack of pay, all active-duty military personnel, including those stationed overseas, will still be required to report for duty.

• Who’s Affected?
  • 2.1 million active-duty military members.
  • 365,000 civilian defense workers deemed essential will work without pay.
  • 435,500 non-essential civilian personnel face furloughs.
• Reservists Impacted: Those participating in drills this weekend will not be paid if the shutdown occurs.

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The Fallout of a Shutdown

A shutdown would disrupt thousands of federal operations, with the military’s payroll among the most visible impacts. Defense Department press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stressed that while troops and essential workers must continue to perform their duties, a funding lapse will result in severe disruptions.

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What Triggered the Deadlock?

Congress was close to passing a stopgap funding measure earlier this week. However, President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk derailed the effort by criticizing the bill’s unrelated spending provisions via Musk’s social media platform, X. Their threats against Republican lawmakers who supported the bipartisan measure caused support to collapse.

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Lawmakers Scramble for Solutions

• GOP Concerns: Some House Republicans expressed disapproval of a shutdown but were unable to rally behind an alternative.
  • Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) acknowledged the impact on military pay, saying, “The last thing we want to do is shut down the government.”
• Democratic Opposition: House Democrats found the revised slimmed-down spending proposal unacceptable, leaving negotiations at an impasse.

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Past Shutdown Precedents

• During previous shutdowns, Congress often passed emergency measures to ensure troops were paid.
• However, in 2019, Coast Guard members went over a month without pay during a funding lapse, highlighting the uneven coverage of such measures.

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What’s Next?

With the midnight deadline fast approaching, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces mounting pressure to broker a deal. However, if no agreement is reached, the shutdown will disrupt defense operations and leave troops without pay during the holiday season.

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Key Takeaways

• Troop Pay: Active-duty military personnel face delayed paychecks during the shutdown.
• Essential Work: Civilians in national security roles will work without pay; others face furloughs.
• Congressional Standoff: A resolution remains elusive as lawmakers grapple with partisan divides.

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