Bessent Warns Troops May Miss Mid-November Pay | JQJO

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Face the Nation that U.S. service members could miss paychecks by Nov. 15 if the shutdown persists, despite a temporary stopgap using about $8 billion in unspent Pentagon research funds to cover the upcoming mid-month pay. He called the situation an “embarrassment,” blaming Democratic leaders and urging moderates to back a House-passed reopening bill that has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries, pressed Republicans to negotiate a bipartisan spending deal and insisted any agreement extend health insurance tax credits.