Johnson says Democrats are to blame for the looming delay in military pay
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Saturday blamed Democrats for the impending collapse in military pay as the shutdown impasse continues, citing the failure of seven votes in the Senate to pass a stopgap funding bill.
He wrote on social platform
The House Speaker added: “Call your Democratic Senator and insist we stop hurting families who are already sacrificing so much!”
Johnson has faced pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to summon lawmakers to Washington to vote on a standalone bill to ensure military workers get their checks next week — even if the government doesn’t reopen. Instead, he announced Friday that a House vote would not take place until the funding bill passed.
More than 1.3 million military personnel are at risk of losing pay by October 15 if the government remains closed. With their roles deemed essential for national security purposes, many service members still must work without pay.
Federal workers received a paycheck on Friday, but only for the period ending Sept. 30, the day before funding expires.
Earlier Friday, the Louisiana Republican suggested that President Trump — who has supported a standalone bill — is exploring options to pay military workers without action from Congress. The president also told Navy sailors last Sunday that they need not worry about back pay.
He also told reporters that Democratic lawmakers are “the ones who have been repeatedly demonstrating now eight times that they don’t want” the military to get their paychecks.
Trump echoed the House Speaker’s concerns on Saturday, writing on Truth Social that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats are responsible for any lost checks.
“Chuck Schumer recently said ‘every day gets better’ as they shut down the radical left. I disagree with that! If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our brave troops will lose their well-deserved paychecks on October 15,” he wrote.
“That is why I am using my authority, as Commander-in-Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to pay our troops on October 15,” the president continued. “We have identified the funds needed to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to pay our troops. I will not allow Democrats to hold our military, and the entire security of our nation, hostage with their dangerous government shutdown.”
Senators left Washington on Thursday after the latest failed vote, ensuring the shutdown will extend into next week. Democrats have been largely unified in their demands for health care benefits, making it difficult for the GOP to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the bill.
If passed, CR would fund the government at Biden-era levels through November 21.
Updated at 1:55 PM EST.
