Intermediate results of government shutdown in Washington.
Intermediate results of government shutdown in Washington.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. military could stop receiving their salaries in mid-November if the government shutdown (temporary interruption of the functioning of the U.S. administration) continues.
Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican congresswoman, reported on Sunday that the U.S. government shutdown could last until the end of November.
In an interview with CBS, Bessent said, “I think we’ll be able to pay them in early November, but on November 15 our soldiers and military, who are willing to risk their lives, won’t be able to receive their salaries.”
In the meantime, Aa unnamed donor is giving $130m (£100m) to the Pentagon to help pay US troops during the government shutdown.
US defence officials confirmed the gift, which President Donald Trump said will make up for shortfalls in paying the country’s 1.32m service members, but declined to identify the donor.
Trump provided a few clues, though, saying on Saturday that he was “a big supporter of mine” and a US citizen.
The government shut down more than three weeks ago, after lawmakers failed to approve a funding deal. The Trump administration paid troops last week by shifting $8bn from military research, but it is unclear what will happen on the next payday at the end of the month.
On October 1, as a result of the failure to reach a bipartisan agreement to pass a funding bill, the U.S. Administration began operating on an interim basis.
“But by November 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid,” Bessent told Face the Nation, a talk show on CBS. “What an embarrassment,” he added.
The Trump administration earlier this month found unused research and development funds to pay active military members, according to a Pentagon official not authorized to speak publicly. So they didn’t miss a full paycheck earlier this month, but it only covered one pay cycle. Many are expecting their next paycheck at the end of this month.
On the other hand, the shutdown has led to the interruption of essential services and a weekly loss estimated at 0.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Republican representatives and senators, who have a majority in both chambers, accuse Democrats of using the vote in order to eliminate some limitations of the so-called One, Big and Beautiful Bill, specifically those related to the Medicare and Medicaid medical programs for undocumented immigrants.
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously said he could use the shutdown to carry out major cuts in wages and staff, suggesting Democrats would be hurt the hardest by these effects.
Altogether, about 1.4 million civilian federal employees across the country are going without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank in Washington, D.C.
Tens of millions of people are at risk of losing food and nutrition aid if the shutdown continues into November. That includes 7 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and nearly 42 million who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, previously known as food stamps. Their debit-like cards were funded a month in advance through October, but the Trump administration has warned the program will run out of money Nov. 1.