Trump Ensures Military Pay Amidst Ongoing Government Shutdown and Federal Worker Layoffs
President Trump ensures military pay during the ongoing government shutdown, as federal workers face layoffs and political negotiations remain stalled.
Trump directs Pentagon to pay troops despite shutdown
Military Times
Overview
- The government shutdown has entered its second week, initiated after Senate Democrats rejected a clean continuing resolution to maintain funding at prior levels.
- President Trump directed the Pentagon to ensure over 1.3 million active-duty service members receive their paychecks, addressing initial concerns about missed military pay.
- Despite military pay assurance, other federal employees are working without pay or facing layoffs initiated by the White House, though they will be compensated once the shutdown ends.
- The shutdown continues amidst a political impasse, with Democrats expressing anger and Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, ruling out a vote on military pay and canceling House sessions.
- Speaker Johnson faces pressure from Senate Democrats and Rep. Sarah McBride to reopen the House, as Republicans continue to refuse negotiations to end the prolonged government shutdown.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by highlighting the selective nature and political implications of Trump's directive. They emphasize the disparity between troops receiving pay and other federal employees facing layoffs and unpaid work, while also noting how this action removes a key pressure point, potentially prolonging the government shutdown. The coverage subtly questions the broader impact of the decision.
"The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of federal subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act."
Military Times"The decision to pass up a vote on military pay is a risk for Republican leaders, who are facing rank-and-file pressure to ease the burden of the shutdown on US service members."
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FAQ
President Trump's focus on ensuring military pay likely stems from the political and public pressure associated with military compensation during a shutdown. Missing military paychecks could rile public anger, potentially forcing a compromise to end the shutdown. Additionally, Trump has promised pay raises for the military, further emphasizing the importance of maintaining their compensation during this period.
Federal employees not in the military are either working without pay or facing layoffs during the shutdown. They will receive retroactive pay once the shutdown ends, although President Trump has suggested that some furloughed employees might not qualify for back pay.
The impasse is primarily due to disagreements over extending health insurance subsidies and Medicaid funding. Democrats are pushing for these measures, while Republicans seek a temporary spending bill to reopen the government.
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