Trump Confirms Military Pay Bill Likely Despite GOP Resistance

By Sam Barron | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 07:44 PM EDT

President Donald Trump asserted Wednesday that a standalone bill to ensure military service members receive pay during the government shutdown “probably will happen,” despite House Speaker Mike Johnson’s rejection of such a measure. “Yeah, that probably will happen,” Trump stated, downplaying immediate concerns. “We don’t have to worry about it yet. That’s a long time. One week for me is an eternity.” He emphasized, “Our military is always going to be taken care of.”

Approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel face delayed paychecks if Congress fails to pass legislation or end the shutdown by Oct. 15. Johnson, however, dismissed the idea of a separate vote, arguing the House had already addressed the issue in a continuing resolution. “We did have that vote in the House,” he said, urging Senate Democrats to act on the stopgap funding measure.

Johnson criticized Democrats for withholding support, claiming they “want to negotiate” but have not engaged in bipartisan efforts. He suggested the Senate could swiftly approve the House-passed bill to reopen government operations. Meanwhile, 10 House Democrats urged Johnson to reconvene the chamber before next Wednesday, while Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., called for legislation guaranteeing military pay during the shutdown. “Military pay should not be held hostage due to Washington’s dysfunction,” she stated.

Sam Barron has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.