Pay Our Military Act pledges military pay regardless of government shutdown

U.S. Senate Republicans led by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced legislation that seeks to make sure military service members still get paid in the event of a government shutdown.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2023, S.2835, would guarantee that all American military branches – Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force – could continue on with pay in the event of a government shutdown during Fiscal Year 2024. This appropriated funding would kick in if a temporary or full-year federal funding bill isn’t passed and signed by Oct. 1, guaranteeing pay for full-service members, reservists, as well as civilian personnel and contractors of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security deemed as providing support to members of the Armed Forces.

“We have entered the most dangerous period in American history since the end of World War II—a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow,” Sullivan said. “All Americans count on our military members to be ready to respond to threats to the homeland, wherever and whenever they may arise. The last thing our brave men and women in uniform need to be worrying about is whether they will get a paycheck, and whether their families are taken care of back home.”

Currently, there are 14 Senate Republicans who have cosponsored the bill. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House by U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA). 

A similar effort by Sullivan and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) – the Pay Our Coast Guard Act – was blocked last week.