Military service members could go without pay during shutdown

U.S. service members could miss their paychecks over the holidays if the U.S. government shuts down this weekend, according to the Pentagon.

Unless lawmakers reach some agreement before the end of Friday to fund the federal government, active-duty troops will not receive their end-of-month paychecks, reservists who report to drills will not be paid, and federal civilians will not be compensated if they are required to work during a shutdown, press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Thursday. 

But Ryder stressed that even without a paycheck, service members and the military at large will continue to protect national security.

“In the event of a lapse in funding and a shutdown of the government, the Department of Defense will continue to carry out our fundamental responsibility and mission to defend our nation and the American people,” Ryder said. “However, it's important to note that military personnel would not be paid until new funds are appropriated by Congress.”

Congress was on track to pass a large government funding bill earlier this week before GOP infighting derailed the process.

The first plan, a bipartisan effort, tanked after it was opposed by many House members, President-elect Trump and Elon Musk, the latter of whom used his social media platform X to attack the bill, threatening Republican lawmakers who supported its passage. 

Then on Thursday, the House rejected a GOP-crafted spending proposal endorsed by Trump.

A plan C, which Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said would be voted on Friday, would pair a three-month government funding extension with $110 billion in disaster relief and farm aid. That bill does not include the debt ceiling hike demanded by Trump.

Should that also go up in flames, a government shutdown would furlough tens of thousands of employees, delay government contracts and vendor payments and leave service members without an end of the month paycheck.

Ryder said the Pentagon has been conducting “prudent planning and preparations for a potential shutdown,” with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin monitoring the situation. 

“A lapse in funding will cause serious disruptions across the Defense Department and is still avoidable,” he said.