Kiggans Fights to Guarantee Military Pay in Event of Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), a former Navy helicopter pilot, reintroduced the Pay Our Troops Act to ensure members of the military are paid in the event of a government shutdown. This legislation will protect paychecks for members of the military, including the Coast Guard, as well as certain U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees and contractors in the event of a lapse in federal appropriations. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has companion legislation in the Senate.

If Congress fails to pass temporary or full-year appropriations that include funding for the DoD by March 14, 2025, members of the Armed Services will not be paid. Despite this, our servicemembers will be expected to continue performing their duties unpaid, even as their bills come due. This will be disastrous for recruitment, retention, and readiness, threatening America’s national security. As a Navy veteran who represents one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, Congresswoman Kiggans is committed to ensuring financial stability for our brave men and women in uniform.

“Dysfunction in Washington should never force our servicemembers to go without a paycheck,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “These men and women put their lives on the line to protect our country – it is our responsibility to ensure they can provide for their families and put food on their tables. When we take care of our Armed Forces, we also fortify our national security. As Congress works to avoid a government shutdown, my legislation will give our troops the financial certainty they deserve to ensure they remain a lethal fighting force. As a Navy veteran, Navy spouse, and Navy Mom, I will always be the loudest voice to protect our men and women in uniform and their families.”

The Pay Our Troops Act is endorsed by the National Defense Committee, American Legion, Bluestar Families, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

Background:

• This bill directs existing, unappropriated Treasury funds for FY25 for the purpose of paying:
  • Members of the US Armed Forces on both active and reserve duty, as well as the Coast Guard
  • Civilian employees and DoD contractors, that are designated by the Secretary of Defense as supporting the Armed Forces

• These funds shall be available until one of the following conditions are met:
  1. A Continuing Resolution is passed that includes FY25 funding for DoD
  2. An appropriations bill funding the DoD is passed
  3. Until January 1, 2026

• You can find the full bill text here.

• You can find a one pager on this bill here.

• Congresswoman Kiggans originally introduced this legislation in September 2023 ahead of the federal funding deadline and reintroduced it ahead of the deadline in September 2024. Both bills to ensure military members continued to receive paychecks, H.R.5641 and H.R.9699, garnered strong bipartisan cosponsorship.

• During the 2019 shutdown, roughly 50,000 Coast Guard employees – including approximately 42,000 active duty servicemembers – went without pay for 35 days.

• According to the DoD, one in four military servicemembers experience “low food security.” The figures do not count the spouses or children of those troops, nor do the numbers include reservists and their families.

• Virginia’s Second Congressional District is home to the largest active-duty military population in the U.S., hosting our Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base as well as Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Congresswoman Kiggans is a former Navy helicopter pilot who has a long history of military service in her family.

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