House Speaker Mike Johnson called President Donald Trump’s recent decision to pay active-duty troops during the government shutdown a “temporary fix,” warning that service members could miss their long-awaited paychecks if Congress fails to reopen the government by October 31. Johnson’s remarks came as part of his ongoing criticism of Democrats for using military personnel as leverage in the broader stalemate over government funding. The Speaker accused Democrats of treating service members like “hostages,” emphasizing the human cost of the political impasse.
Despite the criticism, the Pentagon has already taken action to ensure this week’s paychecks for 1.3 million active-duty troops, as well as tens of thousands of National Guard members and reservists on active duty orders. The move was made by redirecting unused research and development funding, according to several internal sources. However, the next round of paychecks is not guaranteed, with Johnson arguing that the administration’s approach lacks the permanence required to resolve the issue. The White House has disclosed approximately $6.5 billion for this week’s paychecks, significantly less than the $8 billion initially reported, with the remaining funds coming from a $10 billion pool of leftover military R&D funds expected to last into next fall.
The administration also faces uncertainty about whether it has additional accounts it can tap for future payments. By law, it can transfer up to $8 billion between military accounts for the fiscal year that ended on September 30, but the White House has yet to seek approval from senior congressional appropriators. Legal experts suggest that the White House budget office has failed to explain the rationale for this funding strategy to top lawmakers. While many lawmakers across the political spectrum support a standalone bill to ensure continuous troop pay, Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have urged Senate Democrats to approve the stopgap spending bill the House passed last month. This legislative approach has met resistance from Republican leaders who worry it could open the door for additional partial reopenings of the government.
Republican lawmakers have expressed private concerns to GOP leaders, highlighting the risk of creating a precedent for other