Pentagon warns that a government shutdown will cost troops their pay over the holidays

WASHINGTON — Republicans decides to abandon a congressional spending plan The Pentagon will cost troops their wages over the holidays unless an agreement is reached before Friday’s deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

Even if they don’t get paid, these troops will have to report abroad as well as at home, said Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Without an agreement to finance the government“Troops will not receive their paychecks at the end of the month, reservists who drill after Friday will not be paid, and federal civilians who have to work during a shutdown will also not be paid, he said.

The military payroll is just one of thousands of federal accounts that would be affected, but one of the most visible.

Congress was on the verge of passing an emergency measure to keep the government running when President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk used Musk’s social media platform to threaten a Republican. lawmaker who supported its passage. Support for the bill quickly failed.

Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Trump was aware that his position on the bill could result in the military not being paid.

Other civilian personnel not deemed essential to immediate military operations will be laid off, Ryder said.

In previous shutdowns, Congress has made efforts to secure pay for troops, but not everyone was covered. In 2019, Coast Guard members were left out and went without pay for more than a month.

“A lack of funding will cause serious disruptions within the Department of Defense and is still avoidable,” Ryder said.