Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he’s open to passing legislation during the government shutdown to ensure members of the military don’t miss their next paycheck on Oct. 15 and to keep critical Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers on the job.
“We’re monitoring that day by day, I’m certainly open to that. We’ve done it in the past. We want to make sure our troops are paid,” Johnson told reporters at a press conference on the Senate side of the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson said he’s open to a targeted government funding bill that would pay the 1.3 million members of the military who are likely to miss getting paid next week as well as air traffic controllers, who are needed to keep airports operating around the country.
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Some airports are already reporting delays due to staffing shortages, such as the Hollywood Burbank Airport in California, where the control tower was closed due to lack of personnel.
Lawmakers who represent large military bases are stepping up discussions about passing a slimmed-down government funding bill to keep military families from dipping into their savings to buy essential goods and services.
“I have colleagues like Congresswoman Jen Kiggans [R] of Virginia, who has a big military district. She’s already filed legislation to pay our troops. We’re looking forward to processing all this as soon as we gather everybody back up,” Johnson said.
The Speaker noted that he has big military bases in his home state, as well.
He said the government needs to reopen by Oct. 13 for military service members to get paid.
“Checks to our troops will be held up Oct. 15 if they don’t come in here tomorrow and vote to reopen the government. You have to get it resolved by Oct. 13, which is Monday, in order to process those checks,” he said.
Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk are based in Johnson’s district.
