Treasury chief warns of repercussions if government shutdown continues
(MENAFN) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Sunday that if the ongoing government shutdown continues, the United States could run out of funds to pay its military personnel by mid-November.
“We were able to pay the military employees from excess funds at the Pentagon, middle of this month. I think we’ll be able to pay them beginning in November,” Bessent said during an interview. He cautioned, however, that “by Nov. 15, our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid. What an embarrassment.”
The Defense Department confirmed on Friday that the administration has been using a $130 million private donation to cover military salaries during the shutdown. The contribution reportedly came from an anonymous supporter of President Donald Trump.
“He’s obviously a very substantial man, and he contributed $130 million for the military in order to make up any difference, so he wanted to see the military get paid. So did I. And he’s a wonderful man,” Trump said about the donor.
The funding crisis deepened after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-sponsored bill that sought to ensure continued pay for active-duty service members and essential federal workers during the shutdown. The measure was rejected in a 54–45 vote, falling short of the 60 votes required to move forward.
According to reports, the stalemate highlights growing partisan divisions over federal spending priorities, leaving thousands of military families uncertain about their next paycheck as the shutdown drags on.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
