Treasury Secretary Warns US Military Pay May Halt by November 15 Amid Shutdown

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if the ongoing government shutdown continues, U.S. service members will not be paid by November 15, despite previous temporary measures that allowed mid-October paychecks to be processed using unspent Pentagon funds. President Trump authorized the use of approximately $8 billion in leftover funds to cover military pay during the shutdown, but this is only a short-term solution. The shutdown is blamed primarily on Democratic leaders, according to Bessent, who accuses them of prioritizing political interests and primaries over the needs of military personnel and the American people. Democrats have blocked GOP bills aimed at funding the military and essential federal employees, demanding an extension of health insurance tax credits as part of negotiations, while Republicans insist on reopening the government first. The stalemate has led to growing concerns about the economic impact and the morale of troops risking their lives without guaranteed pay. Both Treasury Secretary Bessent and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have called for bipartisan efforts to resolve the funding impasse and avoid further disruptions to military pay.