Sen. Husted backs bill to pay military personnel during shutdown
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in introducing the Pay Our Military Act. This bill would appropriate funds to pay U.S. military personnel throughout the government shutdown.
“There are 10,792 active-duty military members who call Ohio home, and we owe it to them to ensure they receive their pay, regardless of what is happening in Washington. It’s wrong for the brave men and women who sacrifice so much in service to our great nation to go without pay, and I am disappointed Senate Democrats are choosing partisan politics over the American people. I’m backing the Pay Our Military Act to guarantee our servicemembers are paid while we work to get the government functioning again,” Husted said.
The Pay Our Military Act would appropriate funds to pay active-duty and reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard during a government shutdown. It also covers reservists drilling during the shutdown, as well as civilian employees and contractors at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security who support the Armed Forces.
Background:
On Oct. 1, 2025, government funding expired, which triggered a shutdown. While military personnel must continue reporting for duty, it is possible they may not receive pay during the shutdown. On Oct. 11, President Trump announced the Pentagon will fulfill servicemembers’ Oct. 15 paycheck by reallocating already appropriated defense funding.
This week, Husted wrote a letter to the Senate Financial Clerk to withhold his own salary until the shutdown ends.
Husted is also supporting the No Budget, No Pay Act. This bill would prohibit lawmakers from receiving their salaries until both the House and the Senate fund the government.
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Husted withholds pay during government shutdown
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) wrote a letter asking the financial clerk of the Senate to withhold his salary until the government shutdown ends.
“Since the Democrats chose to play politics at the expense of the American people, we’re currently in a government shutdown. With that, I am refusing to take a paycheck until Congress funds the government. I cannot accept pay while millions of federal employees and countless federal services wait for Congress to do its job. I’m going to work around the clock until we get the government working for Americans again,” said Husted.