Democrats Are Playing Politics With Our Troops’ Pay

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

As Congressional Democrats continue to play politics at the expense of the American people, our government has now been officially shutdown for two weeks. Yet, it is not Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, or any of the Democratic Caucus that they lead that directly feel the negative impact first. Instead, it is our brave men and women in uniform who put their own lives on the line every day for our country.

Put simply, when Washington is grinded to a halt, military families are left wondering if they will receive their next paycheck in time. This is immoral and unacceptable. The men and women who make up our Armed Forces are some of our nation’s finest. It is because of their great sacrifice, bravery, and selflessness that we, the American people, are able to live our lives with a sense of safety and freedom. They do not deserve to have their pay threatened. Yet, Democrats do not seem to care, as they continue to put political games over principle.

Now, as military payday approaches tomorrow and Senate Democrats continue to vote against paying our troops, President Trump has had to use his authority as Commander in Chief to step in to protect those who serve. Over the weekend, the President announced he has found an alternate way to pay our troops. More specifically, he has directed the Pentagon to shift about $8 billion from accounts that fund military research, development, testing and evaluation efforts to accounts that will pay the approximately 1.3 million active-duty members who make up the United States military, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of National Guard members and Department of War employees.

I am grateful that President Trump has intervened. Yet, that doesn’t mean that Senate Democrats are off the hook. Moreover, it is their refusal to vote for a clean, nonpartisan extension of government funding, which I actually authored myself, that put our troops’ pay in limbo in the first place.

It is time for them to put politics aside. The Democrats need to vote to pass this clean funding bill. So, today, as I always have, I encourage them to join the Republicans in voting to re-open the United States government and stop playing games with the paychecks of those who serve us so selflessly and bravely.