Bessent says U.S. won’t be able to pay military by Nov. 15 amid shutdown
**Treasury Secretary Warns Military Paychecks Could Be Missed If Government Shutdown Continues**
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Sunday that service members may miss their paychecks by November 15 if the government shutdown persists. This comes despite earlier assurances from the Trump administration that military personnel would continue to be paid amid the funding lapse.
“I think we’ll be able to pay them beginning in November, but by Nov. 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid,” Bessent said during an appearance on *Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan*.
Earlier this month, President Trump directed the Pentagon to use unspent research and development funds to cover military paychecks during the shutdown. Approximately $8 billion from the previous fiscal year was identified to cover mid-month payments. However, officials have cautioned that this measure is only a temporary fix, warning that service members risk missing their end-of-month paychecks and subsequent payments if the shutdown continues.
Bessent indicated that the upcoming paycheck would be disbursed, but stressed that continued shutdown risks leaving personnel unpaid by mid-November. He criticized Democratic leaders in Congress, blaming them for the impasse. “What an embarrassment,” Bessent said, adding that Democrats are “worried about their primaries, and not the American people.”
The current stalemate between Democrats and Republicans centers on government funding. Democrats have demanded an extension of health insurance tax credits as a condition for reopening the government. In contrast, Republicans have expressed willingness to discuss health care only after the government reopens, despite Democrats’ repeated calls for negotiations during the shutdown.
When asked about the possibility of a meeting between President Trump and Congressional leaders following a recent request from Democrats, Bessent expressed skepticism. “I don’t know what good it does. This is a Democratic-led boycott, and I’m just not sure what they’re doing,” he said.
Bessent also warned that the shutdown is beginning to impact the economy. He urged moderate Democrats to “be heroes” by breaking ranks and voting in favor of the House-passed measure to reopen the government. This bill has fallen short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on *Face the Nation* and emphasized the urgency to reopen the government. “Which is why we continue to demand that Republicans sit at the negotiating table so we can enact a spending agreement that’s bipartisan in nature,” said Jeffries, a Democrat from New York. “That’s what we’ve called for from the very beginning.”
On the health care issue, Jeffries added that Democrats “need action, not simply words” or a “wing and a prayer promise” from Republicans.
As the shutdown continues, tensions remain high, with both sides maintaining firm positions while the potential missed paychecks pose increasing concern for military service members across the country.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-military-paychecks-government-shutdown/
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