- U.S. military personnel will likely miss their first payday later this month if the government shutdown continues.
- The shutdown is affecting Utahns in uniforms — and their families.
- Utahns are being encouraged to care for military families by donating to local food banks and military-related support organizations.
Paying military personnel during the ongoing government shutdown has required a budget juggling act.
But that act — assuming the shutdown continues — appears to be reaching its end.
Amid the ongoing shutdown, men and women serving in the armed forces were still paid during their scheduled Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 paydays.
The Trump administration, according to Military Times, pulled the $5.3 billion payday from three different accounts: $2.5 billion from One Big Beautiful Bill Act funds; $1.4 billion from the Defense Department’s procurement account; and $1.4 billion from the department’s research, development, test and evaluation funds.
In a statement provided to Military Times, a Defense Department official said, “President Trump is continuing to make good on his promise to take care of the troops.”
But in a recent CBS News interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that the fast-approaching Nov. 15 pay date for military personnel is in doubt.
“We were able to pay the military employees from excess funds at the Pentagon. … But by Nov. 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid," said Bessent.
Caring for anxious Utahns in uniform
Utah has a significant military presence — centered around one of Utah’s largest employers, Hill Air Force Base.
So shutdown-related anxiety is being felt by many in uniform in the Beehive State.
Marcie Valdez, executive director of the Utah chapter of the national military families support organization Blue Star Families, reported to the Deseret News Tuesday that it’s “been a stressful few months” for local military families.
“While the military did receive the last two paychecks, the decisions have been made late, which has resulted in a lot of uncertainty and stress,” she wrote in a text message.
Valdez added “a lot” of military spouses are federal government employees — “so many families are struggling with a reduced income” during the shutdown.
Many in the Hill Air Force Base community are feeling the broad impact of the shutdown because of its large number of civilian employees working alongside men and women in uniform.
“Many civilians,” she noted, “are also veterans that we have been able to help with food vouchers to the bishop’s storehouse” operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Meanwhile, businesses such as Chobani and LSI have donated goods — and “the community has rallied with food donations to the Airman’s Attic at Hill Air Force Base,” wrote Valdez.
Blue Star Families is encouraging Utahns to assist military families by donating to local food pantries.
Additionally, the organization will host a virtual resource fair on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Blue Star Families operates an online “Government Shutdown Support Hub” curating support resources for military families that includes information on key resources such as food, finances, and mental health services.
Hill Air Force Base is also utilizing its website to provide government shutdown updates that include links to several government resources operating to provide military personnel with help in needed areas such as financial assistance and wellness support.
Temporary credit card break at military commissaries/exchanges
Meanwhile, military commissaries and exchanges are hoping to ease a bit of the pressure on the communities they serve by extending an interest-free offer on commissary purchases with Military Star credit cards through Nov. 30.
New and existing cardholders receive 90 days of zero interest — and no payments required, according to Army Times.
The Military Star card is part of the Exchange Credit Program, a Defense Department program established by Congress to provide affordable credit solutions to the military community.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service operates the Military Star card program, which is accepted at military exchange stores, gas stations and other operations, as well as commissaries.