US troops may miss paycheck by November 15: Bessent
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US military personnel may miss paychecks by November 15 if the government shutdown continues, warns Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent amid budget deadlock.
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District of Columbia National Guard soldiers patrol on the National Mall, Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Washington (AP)
US military personnel will miss paychecks by November 15 if the government shutdown continues, according to a statement made on Sunday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
"I think we will be able to pay them beginning in November, but by Nov. 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives are not going to be able to get paid," Bessent told CBS News.
The new US fiscal year began on October 1st, but Congress's failure to pass a budget has forced a government shutdown, where the lack of approved funding causes the partial cessation of operations for affected federal agencies.
US President Donald Trump previously announced he could leverage a government shutdown to enact massive staff and pay cuts, claiming the Democrats' position created the budget impasse, with the White House now exploiting the situation to eliminate programs disliked by Republicans.
Building on these concerns, US Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna stated on Sunday that the US government shutdown could last until the end of November.
"I am hearing that we potentially might not be back until even around the Thanksgiving timeframe or after that," Congresswoman Luna told Fox News.
Pentagon accepts $130 mln anonymous donation
Amid the shutdown, the Pentagon confirmed on October 24 that it had accepted an anonymous $130 million donation intended to help pay US military personnel, an unusual move that has sparked a wave of ethical concerns and raised questions about transparency and legal oversight.
While this rare and significant gift covers only a small portion of the required salary funding, and the Trump administration revealed last week it had shifted $6.5 billion to meet payroll, it remains unclear if similar financial maneuvers will be used with another payday approaching.
President Donald Trump, without naming the individual, said "That's what I call a patriot," and noted that the donor wished to remain anonymous and had stepped in to cover any potential "shortfall" in military salary payments.
According to spokesperson Sean Parnell, the Pentagon donation was officially accepted under the Department of Defense’s general gift acceptance authority, and he stated that the funds were donated on the condition that they be used specifically to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits.
