Editor's Note: Active-duty military members were paid on Oct. 15.
U.S. military families are feeling the impacts of the government shutdown that is stretching into its second week. While military operations continue during the shutdown, service members will miss at least one paycheck if a budget deal isn't in place by Oct. 15.
The U.S. government went into a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. Service members were paid Oct. 1, but with Congress still gridlocked over a budget compromise, many are wondering if they will miss their next paycheck. Like other government employees, they are guaranteed retroactive pay by law once the shutdown ends.
Missing even a single paycheck can put service members and their families at serious financial risk, said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, a nonprofit group that advocates for military families.
"Fewer than 1 in 3 military families have $3,000 in savings, and nearly 1 in 4 struggles to put food on the table," she said. "This isn't just a financial hardship — it's destabilizing for households and military readiness alike."
Blue Star Families conducted a poll among military families in early October to better understand how the funding lapse is affecting them. Respondents' main concerns about the shutdown fell into two categories: financial stability and mental and physical well-being. About 72% of participants said the possibility of delayed paychecks was their most pressing concern, while nearly as many respondents said they were worried about the added stress and anxiety the shutdown was causing in their households.
In addition, about 55% of families said they are concerned they would need to dip into personal savings to cover costs during the shutdown, 36% of respondents worried that access to health care could be delayed or disrupted, and 30% said they could be forced to take out a loan.
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) run commissaries and schools have remained open during the shutdown, and inpatient and emergency outpatient care in DOD medical facilities will continue. Private health care through TRICARE will not be affected. Armed services retirees will continue to receive retiree pay during the funding lapse.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing. However, VA regional benefits offices are closed. VA medical centers and outpatient clinics remain open.
National Guard drills may be canceled, although mobilized Guard and Reserve members, like their active-duty counterparts, would report for duty without pay.
A Way Forward
President Donald Trump has insisted that military servicemembers do not need to worry about missing their next paychecks. He has signaled support for stand-alone legislation to ensure they are paid during the shutdown.
Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, (R-Va.), proposed the Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 5401) to pay members of the military despite the shutdown. The bill has 148 Republican and Democrat co-sponsors.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, (D-N.Y.) said he would support a stand-alone troop pay bill and believes such a measure would pass with large Democratic support. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Oct. 8 signaled opposition to moving the stand-alone bill to pay military service members during the shutdown.
If Congress does not pass a bill to pay the troops or reopen the government, it would be the first time in recent history that military service members missed a paycheck during a government shutdown.
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