The government could shut down on Oct. 1, leaving many troops without pay until Congress approves federal spending
Lawmakers are taking steps to safeguard the pay of U.S. troops as the deadline for a possible government shutdown looms closer this weekend.
“We have included provisions not only for active-duty personnel but also for Department of Defense civilians and contractors, as well as the Coast Guard, to ensure they receive their paychecks regardless of the outcome,” explained Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., a Navy veteran leading this initiative in the House, during an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
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Kiggans stressed the importance of avoiding a government shutdown, expressing the ongoing efforts to achieve that goal. However, she emphasized the need for reassurance in case a shutdown does occur, particularly for military personnel. She stated, “God forbid that doesn’t happen, we need to have that reassurance for people, a group of people that I care very passionately about, and that the country needs to prioritize, and that’s our military.”
Disagreements within the House and Senate regarding how to proceed with funding the government beyond the September 30 fiscal year deadline are raising concerns among lawmakers about potential repercussions.
If the government experiences a shutdown without a defense funding bill in place (which has not yet been passed in either the House or Senate), it could result in members of the Armed Forces and non-military personnel at the Pentagon not receiving their paychecks until Funding is resolved.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh noted on Tuesday that this situation could affect over one million troops and non-military personnel, potentially leading to a delay in their pay until government funding is reinstated.
Rep. Jen Kiggans expressed her frustration with the situation, characterizing it as a political game and highlighting the inappropriate use of the military as a political pawn.
Rep. Jen Kiggans, whose district has a substantial military presence, introduced her bill on Thursday night, and it has garnered bipartisan support. Her legislation serves as a companion bill to one led by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, in the Senate.
Despite six days having passed since the introduction of the bill, Congress has not made significant progress toward averting a potential shutdown. When asked if she was more concerned now than before, Kiggans straightforwardly stated, “It changes every 15 minutes.”
She also indicated that her bill would become a priority for the House if the government did indeed shut down, emphasizing their continued focus on preventing funding from halting. Kiggans stated, “But if it did, God forbid, yes, we are next in line.”
This week, the House is expected to vote on multiple spending bills, although it remains uncertain whether they have enough support to pass. Among these bills is the defense spending bill, which some hardliners oppose due to certain provisions, including over $300 million allocated to Ukraine.
In anticipation of a 16-day government shutdown in 2013, lawmakers worked to pass legislation to ensure that troops would continue to receive pay during the shutdown, as reported by the Military Times.