Shock in the shutdown: US soldiers continue to receive salaries despite the budget crisis!

Shock in the shutdown: US soldiers continue to receive salaries despite the budget crisis!

The situation in the USA is tense due to the current shutdown. US Vice President JD Vance recently assured that soldiers will continue to receive their salaries despite the ongoing budget impasse. Vance announced this after a meeting with Republican members of Congress and emphasized that pay for the armed forces should be guaranteed on Friday. Nonetheless, many other government employees experienced salary losses, adding to public concerns.

The blockade has now lasted four weeks, making it the second longest shutdown in US history. Both major parties are blaming each other for the current situation. While Vance blames Democrats for the ongoing deadlock, agreement on an interim budget remains a long way off. According to estimates, around 42 million people are currently at risk of a lack of government support on November 1st, especially for food-related assistance, which could hit low-income households, single parents and older people hard.

Financial support through private donations

To secure soldiers' salaries during this difficult time, the Pentagon has accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million. This private donation, which corresponds to around 112 million euros, will be used as support during the current budget blockade. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the money could be paid in the next few days but may no longer be available from mid-November. The identity of the donor remains a mystery; Donald Trump only mentioned that he was a “patriot” who wanted to make up for a financial gap in the military.

Critics see the acceptance of such donations as legally questionable and unusual, since the military budget is usually financed from public funds. Nevertheless, the donation helps to relieve the burden on soldiers, whose wage costs were already around 6.5 billion US dollars in the first half of October, and provides some relief, at least in the short term.

consequences for society

But the consequences of the shutdown are far-reaching. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are on unpaid leave or working without pay, and numerous federal agencies have significantly restricted their activities. Particularly affected are essential workers such as air traffic controllers, who must continue to do their jobs, even without pay. This also has an impact on travelers who have to expect longer waiting times for visas and entry.

Uncertainty is also spreading across households, as many furloughed employees are having financial difficulties covering ongoing costs such as rent or childcare. While aid remains assured for certain groups, such as the Social Security and Medicaid programs, the delay in payments could pose problems for low-income Americans.

Experts like political consultant Guido Weber warn that this shutdown is damaging trust in institutions and could further increase polarization in the country. The economic climate could allow Republicans to benefit politically from the situation, while Democrats will have to prove that they are committed to the needs of poorer people. Despite these challenges, there are also optimists, like Rahul Sahgal, who assumes that the shutdown will soon be over.

For many affected employees and their families, there remains hope that an agreement will be found quickly in Congress and the situation will improve. In the meantime, discussions continue about the future of the budget and funding for key programs.

For further details on the developments surrounding the shutdown and its impact on US society, read Radio Herford, [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/ Amerika/usa-millionenspende-finanzstreit-shutdown-100.html) or 20 minutes.