Bessent Issues Warning
Washington, D.C. — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a grave warning on Sunday, revealing that U.S. troops may stop receiving paychecks by mid-November if the Democrat-led government shutdown continues.
Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, Bessent said the Pentagon has been covering military pay through emergency funds — but those reserves are nearly gone.
“We were able to pay the military employees from excess Pentagon funds through the middle of this month,” Bessent explained. “But by November 15, our troops — men and women risking their lives for this country — won’t be able to get paid. What an embarrassment.”
Bessent Blames Democrat Senators for Blocking Relief
Bessent called the situation a “global embarrassment” and placed the blame squarely on Senate Democrats, accusing them of putting politics before patriotism.
“It’s 52 Republican senators ready to reopen the government. Only three Democrats have crossed the line,” he said. “The rest are holding the entire country hostage. It’s shameful.”
According to Bessent, the standoff is now hurting everyday Americans, slowing air traffic, straining federal services, and threatening economic stability.
“The shutdown is beginning to hit the economy,” he warned. “Moderate Democrats need to be heroes again — come across the aisle and pass a clean funding bill.”
“Democrat-Led Boycott” Hurts Military Families
Bessent also took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, saying both are more concerned with political survival than serving the nation.
“This is a Democrat-led boycott,” he said. “What’s changed since March, other than Schumer’s poll numbers? Jeffries is facing pressure from the far-left, and both of them seem more worried about primaries than about our troops or the American people.”
Bessent emphasized that it’s America’s military families and working taxpayers who are paying the price for Democratic gridlock.
“They’re ignoring our service members and federal workers — the very people keeping this country running,” he concluded.
💥 Key Takeaway
As the shutdown enters its fifth week, President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Democrats to put partisanship aside and restore stability — but with Senate Democrats refusing to compromise, the livelihoods of U.S. troops hang in the balance.
