Senate Considers Bill to Guarantee Military Pay During Future Shutdowns

At NMFA, we’re keeping military families informed as Congress considers new legislation that could directly affect your household finances.

This week, the Senate is preparing to vote on the Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and placed on the Senate calendar by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.). The bill is designed to ensure that service members and other “excepted” federal employees continue to receive their regular pay during a government shutdown.

This bill differs from the Pay Our Troops Act in a few key ways. The Pay Our Troops Act applies only to the current shutdown, while the Shutdown Fairness Act has been presented as a more permanent fix to ensure that active-duty military, essential civilian workers, and certain federal contractors continue to receive pay and benefits during any lapse in government funding, without the need for new emergency legislation each time. However, unlike the Pay Our Troops Act, the Shutdown Fairness Act does not include members of the U.S. Coast Guard and doesn’t mention National Guard members serving under Title 32 orders.

While this measure would ensure that military pay continues during a shutdown, it does not resolve other challenges families face, such as delayed reimbursements, benefit interruptions, or paused programs that support everyday life.

NMFA will continue to monitor this legislation and advocate for comprehensive, lasting solutions that protect every aspect of military family well-being during funding lapses.

By: Olivia Brinsfield, Content Manager