The Pentagon is warning that Republicans’ decision to abandon a congressional spending plan will cost more than 2 million troops their paychecks over the holidays unless some agreement is reached before Friday’s deadline to prevent a government shutdown.

Summary

The Pentagon warns that a potential government shutdown by Friday will halt military paychecks during the holidays unless Congress reaches a funding agreement.

Troops, including overseas and reserve forces, must continue reporting for duty unpaid, with federal civilian workers also affected.

The issue stems from House Republicans abandoning a spending plan after criticism from Donald Trump and Elon Musk over unrelated provisions, leaving lawmakers scrambling for an alternative.

Military leaders caution that this funding lapse will cause widespread disruptions, though such outcomes have been partially mitigated in past shutdowns.

  • Joncash2@lemmy.ml
    2913·
    5 days ago

    Oh god I hope so. Recruitment is already falling fast in the US. No one wants to be soldiers. Which good, USA needs to stop being a warmongering nation. Less soldiers equals less wars, it’s a simple numbers game. If you ALSO take away the paychecks of the few stupid enough to be loyal to this violent nation, well that’s it, we’re done.

    *Edit: A literal starve the beast.

    • Chainweasel@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      5 days ago

      Unfortunately a smaller volunteer army does not mean less war, it just increases the odds of conscription if we do get into a conflict.

      • kautau@lemmy.world
        5·
        5 days ago

        True, but you do need people to man the nearly 800 military bases the US has around the globe and I’m sure pretty much everyone except the neoconservatives would like to see many of those shut down or transferred to be run purely by their host government

      • Tinidril@midwest.socialEnglish
        51·
        5 days ago

        We can’t fight wars with only drones any more than we could fight them with only airpower. At some point, there are always boots on the ground.

    • seaQueue@lemmy.world
      6·
      5 days ago

      Less soldiers equals less wars, it’s a simple numbers game.

      You underestimate Republican willingness to fight wars with low/no oversight civilian contractors.