This bill provides continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of Armed Forces members and certain intelligence community civilian employees for Fiscal Year 2026 if regular appropriations are not enacted.
Christopher Coons
Senator
DE
The Armed Forces Pay Act of 2025 ensures continued funding for the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces and certain civilian intelligence employees through fiscal year 2026, should full appropriations bills not be enacted. This temporary measure provides necessary financial continuity until regular appropriations legislation is passed or until September 30, 2026. The Act also authorizes intelligence-related funds for FY 2026 until the relevant Intelligence Authorization Act is signed into law.
Armed Forces Pay Act Guarantees Military, Intelligence Pay Through FY 2026, Avoiding Shutdown Headaches
This bill, the Armed Forces Pay Act of 2025, is essentially a financial insurance policy for military service members and key intelligence personnel. It ensures that if Congress doesn't pass the full budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (starting October 1, 2025), the paychecks for these critical government employees won't stop. It’s a procedural measure, but one that prevents a massive real-world headache for hundreds of thousands of people.
The Paycheck Safety Net
Section 2 of the Act is the core of the bill, making funds available for pay and allowances for all members of the Armed Forces, including active service and reserve components performing training. It also covers civilian employees of the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Think of it as a dedicated, temporary funding stream that kicks in automatically if the usual appropriations process stalls. For a military family relying on that bi-weekly direct deposit to pay rent and childcare, this bill means they won't have to worry about their income being held hostage by political gridlock on Capitol Hill. This provision directly addresses the kind of uncertainty that can tank morale and readiness.
When Does the Safety Net Expire?
This temporary funding guarantee isn't permanent. Section 3 clearly defines three ways the authority ends, whichever happens first. It stops the moment Congress passes a law that appropriates the funds (a regular budget), if Congress passes a law that explicitly doesn't include the funding, or on September 30, 2026. This structure is designed to be a bridge—it maintains continuity until the proper budget is passed, but it doesn't replace the regular legislative process. It simply ensures that essential personnel aren't penalized during budget negotiations.
Intelligence Funding Gets a Head Start
Section 4 includes a detail that’s more about internal government procedure but is worth noting. It states that any funds appropriated or transferred by this Act for intelligence activities are considered “specifically authorized” for FY 2026. This is a temporary fix under existing law (section 504 of the National Security Act of 1947). Usually, intelligence funding needs a separate, specific Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA). This provision allows intelligence operations to continue with legal funding cover until the full IAA for 2026 is officially enacted. While this ensures operational continuity, it does mean that for a short period, these specific intelligence funds are being spent under less immediate congressional scrutiny than a newly passed authorization bill would provide.