US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on
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US troops risk missing pay as government shutdown continues, while Speaker Johnson blames Democrats, warns of widespread fallout without quick resolution.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference to mark the seventh day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP)
US House Speaker Mike Johnson warned on Tuesday that active-duty military personnel will not receive their paychecks on October 15 unless Congress passes a government spending bill by October 13 to end the ongoing shutdown.
“Checks to our troops will be held up on October 15 if they [Democrats] do not come in tomorrow and vote to reopen the government,” Johnson told reporters. “You have to get it resolved by October 13 to process those checks.”
The US government has now been shut down for seven days, following a deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over a temporary funding bill. The impasse has left 1.3 million active-duty troops and 50,000 Coast Guard members without pay.
In addition, over 13,000 air traffic controllers face disruptions, threatening flight operations, while food assistance for low-income families has been cut. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that roughly 750,000 federal workers may be furloughed daily, costing the US government $400 million per day.
Furloughed workers will likely receive back pay
Speaking at a separate briefing, Johnson said he believes federal employees furloughed during the shutdown will eventually receive back pay. "I haven’t looked at the memo specifically yet. My assumption is the furlough workers will get back pay," he noted.
This came in response to a Bloomberg report citing a White House memo suggesting that federal workers might not receive compensation if the shutdown persists, which Democrats argue would violate federal law.
Government plays the blame game
The shutdown stems from a failure to pass a stopgap budget before the fiscal year deadline. The Trump administration and Republican leaders blame Democrats for using the deadline as political leverage, particularly over proposed healthcare funding for undocumented migrants.
Johnson further accused Senate Democrats of playing political games at the expense of ordinary Americans.
The #US government has entered a shutdown after negotiations between President #DonaldTrump and Democratic lawmakers collapsed over healthcare spending demands. pic.twitter.com/SVBPLV2gGI
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 1, 2025
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