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AP reader question: How does the shutdown affect National Guard troops?

Here’s a question submitted by an Associated Press reader: How does the shutdown impact National Guard troops

Meg Kinnard
Saturday 04 October 2025 20:45 BST

Here’s a question about the shutdown submitted by an Associated Press reader, Christian P.:

How does the shutdown affect National Guard troops?

National Guard troops will not be paid on time during the shutdown, just like the thousands of other employees deemed “essential.”

All active-duty military members, including those in the deployed Guard, must remain on duty, but they will not receive pay until funding is restored.

In years past, Congress has passed a stopgap measure preventing this pause in military pay. Days before government funding lapsed in 2013, lawmakers approved the Pay Our Military Act, which kept military paychecks going during the shutdown.

Before this shutdown happened, a similar bill was introduced, but it was not voted on before lawmakers adjourned and the shutdown went into effect.

We'll be showcasing a different reader question about the shutdown each day for the coming several days.

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Do you have a question for AP about the government shutdown? You can submit it here.

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