Military Pay at Risk as Shutdown Drags On Despite Trump’s Temporary Fix: Johnson
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Wednesday that the Trump administration’s effort to keep military families paid during the ongoing government shutdown is only a temporary fix that could soon expire.
During a press conference at the Capitol, Johnson said the administration’s move to reroute Pentagon funds to cover military paychecks is a short-term measure that cannot continue indefinitely, Politico reported.
“The problem we have right now is that, in spite of President Trump’s heroic efforts to make sure they get paid, that is a temporary fix,” Johnson told reporters.
“The executive branch, his help, is not permanent. It can’t be,” he added. “And if the Democrats continue to vote to keep the government closed as they have done so many times, then we know U.S. troops are going to risk missing a full paycheck at the end of this month.”
The Trump administration authorized the Department of Defense to use unspent research and development funds to pay active-duty service members during the shutdown, which began earlier this month after the Senate failed to pass a funding measure.
The move provided temporary relief for military families who were preparing to miss their paychecks.
Johnson credited the president for taking action but said the measure does not address the larger problem.
“The reason that the way they were able to get the troops paid for this paycheck — and as I said, this is not an enduring solution, because we will run out of the funds — but there was some unspent funds in, effectively, R&D accounts in defense,” Johnson said.
Chuck Schumer keeps voting to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 15, 2025
But he voted for this EXACT SAME government funding bill in March.
Why is he against it now??
…Because the RADICAL LEFT told him to be. He’s TURNED HIS BACK on the American people simply to please the Marxist wing of… pic.twitter.com/hhKu3d1IHs
“They moved that over to prioritize payment of those who are putting their lives on the line today and who have families in serious situations,” he added.
The government shutdown has resulted in thousands of federal employees being furloughed or temporarily laid off.
Those deemed “essential,” including active-duty military and federal law enforcement, continue to work but often without pay until the shutdown ends.
The House passed a short-term funding measure known as a continuing resolution on September 19 to keep the government operating through November 21.
The measure would give lawmakers more time to negotiate a comprehensive spending agreement for fiscal year 2026.
To end the shutdown, Democrats are DEMANDING $1.5 TRILLION in new partisan spending.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 15, 2025
This is an unserious proposal made by unserious people.
Here are just a few of the things they are using to take the government hostage ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IIyQz16t1P
To advance in the Senate, the resolution requires 60 votes.
So far, only three Democrats have joined Republicans in voting to end the shutdown.
The rest of the Democratic caucus, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, has remained united against the measure while pushing for a package of legislative priorities that includes an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire in 2026.
Johnson said congressional Republicans are exploring ways to ensure that federal law enforcement officers and service members continue to receive paychecks even if the shutdown persists.
“If there is a mechanism to do that, we will find it,” he said.
He also criticized Senate Democrats for using the shutdown as political leverage.
“This is not a game for the people who are depending on their paychecks,” Johnson said.
As the shutdown enters another week with no clear end in sight, the White House has continued to express confidence that the administration’s temporary funding maneuvers can sustain military pay for the time being.
Johnson warned that those resources are limited and said the only real solution is for Democrats to agree to reopen the government.
