When the government shuts down on Wednesday, active duty military will stop getting paychecks while ICE agents continue getting paid because they are essential.

During a federal government shutdown, active-duty military personnel are required to continue reporting for duty, but their ongoing receipt of paychecks depends on separate legislative measures or executive branch directives. Congress frequently passes specific bills like the Pay Our Military Act to ensure members of the armed forces remain paid during budget impasses.legion.orglegion.orgMembers of Armed Forces Paid During Shutdown*Specific Legislation (Pay Our Troops Act / Pay Our Military Act): Congress frequently introduces or passes targeted bills—such as the Pay Our Military Act first enacted in 2013—to explicitly carve out military pay and exempt it from a shutdown In various recent shutdown scenarios, the executive branch has also utilized unappropriated funds or specific funding streams to prevent active-duty pay disruptions.militaryfamily.orgmilitaryfamily.orgThe President Says Troops Will Get Paid on October 15 What Can Military Families...Executive Directives / Repurposing Funds: In certain recent shutdown scenarios (such as the October 2025 federal budget impasse), the executive branch directed the Department of Defense to use available, unappropriated funds (such as...

Similarly, funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other personnel during budget impasses relies on complex statutory authorities rather than a simple essential versus nonessential distinction. While certain agencies experience severe pay delays, administrations have utilized balances from previous legislative packages to sustain operations and payroll.theguardian.comtheguardian.comTrump Government Shutdown Ice Worker PayWhile DHS appropriations often lapse during broader budget impasses (causing parts of agencies like the TSA to face severe pay delays), the administration utilized specific funding streams—such as balances from previous major legislative... Characterizing the situation as an automatic cutoff for the military while immigration agents seamlessly receive standard pay ignores these specific legislative interventions and funding mechanisms.thedailybeast.comthedailybeast.comTrump Promises Ice Agents Pay During Government ShutdownWhile DHS appropriations often lapse during broader budget impasses (causing parts of agencies like the TSA to face severe pay delays), the administration utilized specific funding streams—such as balances from previous major legislative...