Government Shutdown: Military Pay, Retired Pay and Back Pay
As of October 27, 2026, there is no shutdown. Funding runs through December 11, 2026. In a lapse, active-duty members keep working and their pay depends on appropriations; in 2025 the President directed the use of available funds for the October 15 payday. Agency documents say retired pay is unaffected; civilian employees are owed back pay by law.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Checked against the laws and agency documents listed below, October 27, 2026 · Methodology & sources
FedRateCalc is an independent site and is not affiliated with the Department of War, OPM, VA, SSA, DFAS or any other agency. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Funding status as of October 27, 2026
- Lapse in appropriations
- None in effect
- Current funding law
- Public Law 119-103 (H.R. 6500, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027), signed September 2, 2026
- Funded through
- December 11, 2026
- FY2027 appropriations enacted since
- None among the public laws enacted since, through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026), per congress.gov; govinfo publishes with a delay
Section 106 of the law: “appropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs” – (3) December 11, 2026.
Read from govinfo.gov public law texts and the Congress.gov public law list on October 27, 2026. This box is updated by hand, not live; check congress.gov for anything enacted after that date.
Active-duty and Reserve pay in a lapse
The Antideficiency Act bars agencies from committing money before Congress appropriates it, unless a law authorizes it. Active-duty members, and Reserve members on federal active duty, keep reporting for duty in a lapse. Their pay is the open question each time.
The Department of War states the default on its own lapse page: duty continues and pay does not, until appropriations are enacted. The Department of the Air Force wrote the same default in a 2023 Q&A for a possible lapse: members keep earning pay for the shutdown period but do not receive it until Congress provides appropriations.
The Pay Our Military Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-39) is the precedent for a statute that appropriates military pay during a lapse. It appropriated funds for fiscal year 2014 only and ended when continuing appropriations were enacted on October 17, 2013 (Public Law 113-46), so it does not apply to later lapses.
Basic pay is an entitlement of a member on active duty under 37 U.S.C. 204(a)(1); whether it is disbursed during a lapse depends on appropriations. For the October 15 payday, the President directed the Secretary of War to use available funds (NSPM-8, in the timeline). This page does not predict any future payday.
“involve either government in a contract or obligation for the payment of money before an appropriation is made unless authorized by law”
“Military personnel on active duty, including reserve component personnel on Federal active duty, will continue to report for duty and carry out assigned duties.”
“The figures above do not include 2,067,700 military personnel who continue to perform duties during a lapse in appropriation.”
“Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law.”
“will continue to work and will continue to earn pay for the period of the shutdown but will not receive it until Congress provides appropriations”
“(a) The following persons are entitled to the basic pay of the pay grade to which assigned or distributed, in accordance with their years of service computed under section 205 of this title— (1) a member of a uniformed service who is on active duty”
“such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code), including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during such period”
Military retirees, survivors and VA benefits
Military retired pay and survivor annuities are paid from the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund. Under 10 U.S.C. 1463(a), retired pay to members on the retired lists and benefits under the survivor annuity programs are paid from the Fund, and 1463(b) makes the Fund's assets available for those payments.
The documents this page could read say retired pay is not touched by a lapse. The Air Force Q&A says so for retired military and annuitants, and the Coast Guard FAQ for the February 2026 lapse says so for retirees and Survivor Benefit Plan beneficiaries. DFAS publishes its own shutdown notices, but dfas.mil could not be read for this page; check it for the current wording.
VA compensation and pension: VA lists claims processing and payments among the work that continues in a lapse, as stated in its September 2025 lapse plan (the most recent VA plan found). Social Security: SSA's September 24, 2025 plan says funding for Titles II, XVI and XVIII continues, and adds that Title XVI (SSI) is funded from general revenues and the current appropriation funds those payments only through the first quarter of the following fiscal year. For the Thrift Savings Plan, the only statement found is in a VA FAQ for VA employees.
These are agency plans written for past or possible lapses, not a guarantee for a future one. Each agency updates its plan before a lapse, so read the current plan on the agency's website.
“(a) There shall be paid from the Fund— (1) retired pay payable to members on the retired lists of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and Space Force”
“(4) benefits payable under programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security that provide annuities for survivors of members and former members of the armed forces”
“(b) The assets of the Fund are hereby made available for payments under subsection (a).”
“Pay and entitlements will continue as normal. These payments are made from trust funds not impacted by the government shutdown.”
“Military retirees and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) beneficiaries are not impacted by a lapse in appropriations and will continue to receive disbursements.”
“compensation and pension claims processing and payments, decision review operations centers and management. These functions will continue as necessarily implied to prevent significant disruption to mandatory benefits programs.”
“Funding for the programs under Titles II, XVI, and XVIII of the Social Security Act will continue, even in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Indefinite trust funds supply Title II and Title XVIII benefits. General revenues fund Title XVI payments. However, the current appropriation funds those payments through the first quarter of the following fiscal year.”
“For TSP, the TSP will continue its normal daily operations during the Federal Government shutdown.”
Federal civilians: excepted, furloughed and back pay
In a lapse, federal civilians fall into two groups. Excepted employees must keep working, and furloughed employees are placed in a non-work, non-pay status. Federal law leaves it to OPM (and the agency) to define who is excepted.
Since the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, 31 U.S.C. 1341(c) requires back pay for both groups. The rule applies to any lapse that begins on or after December 22, 2018, and the payment is made "at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates."
The law adds a condition: the payment is "subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse." In 2025 and again in 2026, Congress put the payment into the law that ended the lapse (section 116 of Public Law 119-37, then the matching sections of Public Law 119-75 and Public Law 119-86). OPM's memo says furloughed employees are not owed pay for time they were already scheduled to be in a non-pay status.
Do the military get back pay? Section 1341(c) does not mention members of the armed forces. It speaks of an "employee." The Department of War's FAQ cites it in an answer about furloughed employees ("Federal employees"). The Coast Guard's FAQ says all military and civilian personnel are guaranteed back pay by statute. The 2025 and 2026 laws cover "personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each department and agency." This page does not decide the legal question; it shows what each source says.
“the term "excepted employee" means an excepted employee or an employee performing emergency work, as such terms are defined by the Office of Personnel Management or the appropriate District of Columbia public employer, as applicable”
“Each employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations, and each excepted employee who is required to perform work during a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for such work, at the employee's standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates, and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.”
“the term "covered lapse in appropriations" means any lapse in appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018”
“Section 116 of Division A (the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026) provides retroactive pay pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1341(c) to Federal employees affected by the lapse in appropriations that began on October 1, 2025. This includes Federal employees who were furloughed, as well as Federal employees who were required to perform excepted work activities during the lapse.”
“A furloughed employee is not entitled to retroactive pay for furlough periods if the employee had been previously (before the lapse) scheduled to be in a nonpay status during those periods.”
“31 U.S.C. § 1341(c)(2) provides retroactive pay for Federal employees affected by a lapse in appropriations.”
“By statute, all military and civilian personnel are guaranteed to receive back-pay once a potential lapse in appropriations concludes.”
What happened in the 2025 shutdown and the 2026 lapses
September 30, 2025: Department of War appropriations expire
The Department of War says its appropriations ran out at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on September 30.
“The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025.” – Department of War, "Lapse in Appropriations" page
October 1, 2025: The lapse in appropriations begins
Public Law 119-37 later treats its continuing appropriations as having begun on this date, and OPM dates the lapse from it.
“the time covered by such divisions shall be considered to have begun on October 1, 2025.” – Public Law 119-37, section 119
October 11, 2025: President directs funds for the October 15 military payday
A presidential statement directs the Secretary of War to use available funds for the October 15 pay.
“to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th” – President Trump, Statement on the Lapse in Federal Government Appropriations, October 11, 2025 (DCPD-202501002)
October 15, 2025: NSPM-8 on military pay and allowances
On the fifteenth day of the lapse a national security presidential memorandum directs the Secretary of War, with OMB, to use appropriated funds that remain available for the scheduled disbursement of military pay and allowances.
“to use for the purpose of pay and allowances any funds appropriated by the Congress that remain available for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2026 to accomplish the scheduled disbursement of military pay and allowances for active duty military personnel, as well as for Reserve component military personnel who have performed active service during the relevant pay period” – National Security Presidential Memorandum NSPM-8, October 15, 2025 (DCPD-202501017)
November 12, 2025: Public Law 119-37 ends the lapse and requires back pay
The continuing resolution enacted November 12 restores appropriations. Section 116 makes personnel pay, allowances and benefits available for 1341(c) payments, and OPM tells agencies to pay furloughed and excepted employees retroactively.
“amounts made available in divisions A through D of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 for personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each department and agency shall be available for payments pursuant to subsection (c) of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code and such payments shall be made.” – Public Law 119-37, section 116, enacted November 12, 2025
January 31, 2026: A second lapse begins on or about this date
Public Law 119-75 (Division H) treats the period beginning on or about January 31, 2026 as a lapse in appropriations.
“the time covered by such division shall be considered to include the period which began on or about January 31, 2026, during which there occurred a lapse in appropriations.” – Public Law 119-75, Division H, section 102
February 3, 2026: Public Law 119-75 enacted, with the same back pay language
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 lists the Department of Defense appropriations act as its Division A. Its Division H repeats the section 1341(c) payment language (section 103).
“DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026” – Public Law 119-75, table of contents (section 2)
February 14, 2026: A lapse for the agencies still under the continuing resolution (Public Law 119-86 then enacted the full-year Homeland Security appropriations act)
Public Law 119-86 treats the period beginning on or about February 14, 2026 as a lapse in appropriations, and its Division A is the Department of Homeland Security appropriations act. The Coast Guard is funded through the Department of Homeland Security. Its FAQ for that lapse says Coast Guard military personnel would receive a full paycheck on February 15; the capture read for this page does not show later paydays.
“the time covered by such Act shall be considered to include the period which began on or about February 14, 2026, during which there occurred a lapse in appropriations.” – Public Law 119-86, Division B, section 102
April 30, 2026: Public Law 119-86 approved
Division B again makes personnel pay, allowances and benefits available for payments under 1341(c).
“for personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each department and agency shall be available for payments pursuant to subsection (c) of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code, and such payments shall be made.” – Public Law 119-86, Division B, section 103
This timeline lists only what enacted law and official documents the page could read say. No official statement describing the October 31 and November 1, 2025 military paychecks could be read, so the page does not describe them.
Scheduled paydays right after the funding end date
The first day after current funding ends is Saturday, December 12, 2026. These are the next scheduled paydays on this site's pay-date pages. They show when pay is scheduled, not whether it is released.
Active-duty and Reserve (DFAS) paydays
| Payday | Pay | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 15, 2026 | Mid-month | Not moved (falls on a business day) |
| Thursday, December 31, 2026 | End-of-month | January 1, 2027 is New Year's Day, a federal holiday, so pay moves to the preceding business day, Thursday. |
| Friday, January 15, 2027 | Mid-month | Not moved (falls on a business day) |
Federal civilian pay periods (USDA NFC dates)
| Pay period | Dates | Direct deposit | Official pay date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | November 29, 2026 to December 12, 2026 | Monday, December 21, 2026 | Thursday, December 24, 2026 |
| 25 | December 13, 2026 to December 26, 2026 | Monday, January 4, 2027 | Thursday, January 7, 2027 |
| 26 | December 27, 2026 to January 9, 2027 | Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | Thursday, January 21, 2027 |
NFC is one federal payroll provider; other providers use different dates, listed on the pay period calendar page.
Government shutdown pay questions
Is there a government shutdown right now?
No. As of October 27, 2026 no lapse in appropriations is in effect. Public Law 119-103 (H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026) continues appropriations through December 11, 2026, and the public laws enacted since, through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026), per congress.gov; govinfo publishes with a delay, include no FY2027 appropriations act.
Is military retirement pay affected by a government shutdown?
The documents this page could read say no. Retired pay and survivor annuities are paid from the Military Retirement Fund under 10 U.S.C. 1463(a)(1) and (4). The Department of the Air Force's 2023 lapse Q&A says retired military and annuitants: "Pay and entitlements will continue as normal. These payments are made from trust funds not impacted by the government shutdown." The Coast Guard's FAQ for the 2026 lapse says retirees and Survivor Benefit Plan beneficiaries are not impacted by a lapse in appropriations. DFAS's own page could not be read for this site, so check dfas.mil for the current notice.
Do federal employees get back pay after a shutdown?
Yes, by law. 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2) says furloughed employees are paid for the period of the lapse and excepted employees are paid for their work, at the standard rate of pay, "at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates," and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse. An employee who was already scheduled to be in a non-pay status is not owed pay for that time.
Do government employees get back pay?
Federal civilian employees do under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c), added by the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 and applying to any lapse that began on or after December 22, 2018. In November 2025 OPM told agencies that section 116 of Public Law 119-37 provides that pay to employees who were furloughed and to those who worked as excepted employees.
Do military get back pay after a shutdown?
Sources describe it differently, and this page does not decide the question. Section 1341(c) does not mention members of the armed forces. It speaks of an "employee." Basic pay is an entitlement of a member on active duty under 37 U.S.C. 204(a)(1). The Department of War's FAQ cites 1341(c)(2) in an answer about furloughed employees ("Federal employees"). The Department of the Air Force's 2023 Q&A says military members "will continue to earn pay for the period of the shutdown but will not receive it until Congress provides appropriations." The Coast Guard's FAQ says all military and civilian personnel are guaranteed back pay by statute. The 2025 and 2026 laws make "personnel pay, allowances, and benefits in each department and agency" available for 1341(c) payments. The Pay Our Military Act of 2013 appropriated funds for fiscal year 2014 only and ended when continuing appropriations were enacted on October 17, 2013 (Public Law 113-46), so it does not apply to later lapses.
Will the military get paid December 31?
December 31 is the scheduled DFAS payday for January 1 pay. January 1, 2027 is New Year's Day, a federal holiday, so pay moves to the preceding business day, Thursday. It falls after the last day of current funding (December 11, 2026), so this page cannot say whether a lapse will be in effect then. For comparison, in 2025 the Department of War said military personnel continue in normal duty status without pay during a lapse, and a presidential memorandum of October 15, 2025 directed the use of available funds for the scheduled military pay. Check DFAS and congress.gov for the current position.
What happened to military pay in the 2025 shutdown?
The lapse began October 1, 2025. On October 11 the President directed the Secretary of War to use available funds for the October 15 military pay, and NSPM-8 of October 15 directed the use of appropriated funds that remain available for the scheduled disbursement of military pay and allowances. Public Law 119-37, enacted November 12, 2025, ended the lapse and made personnel pay, allowances and benefits available for payments under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c). No official statement describing the October 31 and November 1 paychecks could be read, so this page does not describe them.
Do VA disability payments and Social Security stop in a shutdown?
Each agency's own lapse plan says no. VA's September 2025 plan lists compensation and pension claims processing and payments among the work that continues. SSA's September 24, 2025 plan says funding for benefits under Titles II, XVI and XVIII continues, with a caveat: general revenues fund Title XVI payments, and the current appropriation funds those payments through the first quarter of the following fiscal year. These are plans for past or possible lapses, so read the agency's current plan before relying on them.
Related pay pages
- Military pay dates – DFAS paydays for every month
- Does the military get paid today? – payday checker with the next payday
- Federal pay period calendar 2026 – pay periods and pay dates by payroll provider
- Federal pay raise 2027 – what the 2027 General Schedule raise looks like
- Military pay raise 2027 – the proposed 2027 basic pay raise
- VA disability pay dates – when VA compensation is deposited
How the sources were read
These agency websites block automated downloads, so their text was read from an Internet Archive capture. The live page may have changed since; the source links go to the agency's own address.
- Department of War lapse page: read from an Internet Archive capture of April 13, 2026
- Department of War contingency guidance (January 2026): read from an Internet Archive capture of February 2, 2026
- Air Force 2023 lapse Q&A: read from an Internet Archive capture of May 30, 2026
- Coast Guard lapse FAQ: read from an Internet Archive capture of May 21, 2026
- SSA lapse plan: read from an Internet Archive capture of October 13, 2026
Sources: 31 U.S.C. 1341 · 10 U.S.C. 1461 · 10 U.S.C. 1463 · 37 U.S.C. 204 · Pub. L. 116-1 (GEFTA) · Pub. L. 113-39 (Pay Our Military Act) · Pub. L. 113-46 · Pub. L. 119-37 · Pub. L. 119-75 · Pub. L. 119-86 · Pub. L. 119-103 · Public laws of the 119th Congress (Congress.gov) · President's statement, Oct. 11, 2025 · NSPM-8 · OPM CPM 2025-14 · Department of War lapse page · Department of War contingency guidance (January 2026) · Air Force 2023 lapse Q&A · VA lapse plan · VA shutdown furlough FAQ · SSA lapse plan · Coast Guard lapse FAQ