This Act ensures automatic, continuing appropriations for the pay of active duty service members, essential civilian staff, and supporting defense contractors if Congress fails to pass the full budget for fiscal year 2025.
Dan Sullivan
Senator
AK
The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that active duty service members, essential civilian staff, and critical defense contractors continue to receive pay during any lapse in regular appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025. This automatic funding remains in effect until Congress passes a full budget or until January 1, 2026, whichever comes first. The legislation is designed to prevent disruptions to military compensation during government funding gaps.
Pay Our Military Act Guarantees Troops' Pay Through January 2026, Even During Government Shutdowns
The “Pay Our Military Act of 2025” is one of those bills that sounds simple but fixes a huge, recurring problem. Essentially, it’s a legislative insurance policy designed to make sure members of the Armed Forces get paid, on time, even if Congress can’t agree on a budget for Fiscal Year 2025. This isn’t a raise; it’s a guarantee that if the government shuts down or hits a budget impasse, the paychecks for active duty personnel—and those in the reserves—will keep flowing without disruption (SEC. 2).
The Automatic Paycheck Guarantee
Think of this Act as hitting the 'auto-pay' button for the military. If October 1, 2024, rolls around and Congress hasn't passed the necessary spending bills, this law automatically triggers continuing appropriations specifically for military pay and allowances. For the 1.3 million active-duty service members and their families, this means skipping the stress and uncertainty that typically comes with budget fights in Washington. It’s a huge morale booster and financial stability measure, ensuring military families can cover rent, groceries, and childcare without having to worry if their next paycheck is going to be held up by political gridlock.
Who Else Stays on the Clock?
The guarantee doesn't stop with the troops. The bill also grants flexibility to the relevant Secretaries (like the Secretary of Defense) to keep essential support staff paid. This includes Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees who are determined to be "directly supporting" those active service members. Critically, it also extends this protection to necessary defense contractors. This provision is key because modern military operations rely heavily on civilian specialists and contractors for everything from IT support to base maintenance. If those support teams stop working, the military can’t function effectively. By allowing the Secretaries to keep these essential people paid, the Act ensures that operational readiness isn't compromised just because of a budget delay.
The Sunset Clause: When the Music Stops
This automatic funding isn't forever, which is important for maintaining budget accountability. The Act includes a clear termination clause (SEC. 3). The funding mechanism stops the moment Congress passes a regular spending bill that covers the military, or if Congress passes a law that explicitly cuts off this funding. If neither of those things happens, there’s a hard stop date: January 1, 2026. This means the automatic authority is temporary, designed only to bridge the gap during the budget season, not replace the regular appropriations process indefinitely. It’s a thoughtful mechanism that provides security without creating a permanent loophole around Congressional spending duties.