H.R. 5660 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Appropriations, Sep 30, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryEnsures military pay during government shutdowns
Ever wondered what happens to military paychecks if the government shuts down? This bill makes sure they keep coming. It sets aside money specifically for paying active-duty military members, reservists, National Guard members doing their training, and the Defense Department civilians and contractors who support them. If a shutdown happens, these paychecks continue until either Congress passes a full budget or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
How it affects you
If you're on active duty, in the reserves, or a civilian worker at the Defense Department, you'd keep getting paid even during a shutdown. The same goes for people working as contractors supporting the military. For most other Americans, this doesn't create a direct change, though it does mean certain government services would continue functioning through a shutdown period.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Sep 30, 2025)
Pay Our Military Act
This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).
Specifically, the bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service or inactive-duty training during the period; and (2) civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense (and the Department of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy) who are providing support to such members of the Armed Forces.
If a government shutdown occurs, the bill provides the continuing appropriations until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) January 1, 2027.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5660
A BILL
Pay Our Military Act
Sponsor: Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH-13) · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 30, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.”