Airports experience flight delays and staff shortages during closure
Major airports are experiencing staffing shortages as TSA and air traffic controllers work without pay during the government shutdown.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has found a way to pay the military during the government shutdown.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, President Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he had authorized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to use “specified funds” to pay the military.
During the government shutdown that began Oct. 1, military personnel may not receive their Oct. 15 checks. But President Trump on Oct. 9 mentioned the possibility of a standalone bill to pay the military during the government shutdown, saying military personnel would not receive checks.
Federal civil servants were expected to receive a pay cut on October 10 due to the government shutdown.
President Trump’s Truth Social post, posted at 1:35 p.m. ET, said: “Therefore, in my authority as Commander-in-Chief, I urge Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth to use all available funds to… I am directing the military to be paid on October 15th. We have identified funds for that, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to pay for the military. I will not allow the Democrats to retain the military and security overall.” Hostage to our country’s dangerous government, please shut down. ”
How many military personnel do you need to pay?
The approximately 1.3 million active-duty members of the U.S. military, along with hundreds of thousands of National Guard and non-military personnel employed by the Department of the Army, will leave without pay unless action is taken during the shutdown.
The Pentagon previously told USA TODAY that service members were last paid as scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 30, but will not receive payments again until appropriations are restored.
Military pay becomes flashpoint amid government shutdown
One of the most emotional moments of the government shutdown occurred on Oct. 9, when a woman who identified herself as a military wife confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) during a C-Span call-in show.
“As a Republican, I’m very disappointed in my party and I’m very disappointed in you because you have the power to recall the House,” the woman said, adding that her two children with serious medical conditions “could die.” “You refuse it, it’s just for show.”
Johnson said her situation keeps her up at night, but she blamed the uncertainty on Democrats, saying, “They’re the ones who are keeping us from getting the checks.”
Rep. Jennifer Quiggans (R-Va.), who introduced a bill in September to pay military personnel despite the government shutdown, urged House Republican leaders on Oct. 8 to quickly pass the bill.
She has 148 co-sponsors. However, the House remains in session until November 21, pending approval of the government reopening bill by the Senate.
Contributors: Zack Anderson, Michelle Del Rey, Joey Garrison, Bert Jansen, Zachary Schermele
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: blythe & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
What is everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter and get the latest news of the day
