Speaker Mike Johnson told House Republicans on a private call Thursday that he doesn’t plan to put a standalone bill to pay troops up for a vote before they miss paychecks Oct. 15, arguing the Senate would kill that measure while Democrats also block an already-passed stopgap bill that includes servicemember pay.
Johnson also made clear he doesn’t plan to bring the House back next week, or at all, until the Senate passes the continuing resolution the chamber passed weeks ago, according to five people granted anonymity to describe the call. He said the House would remain on 48-hour recall notice indefinitely.
On the call, Johnson sought to tamp down a growing push among rank-and-file House Republicans by pressing them to deliver a clear message as to why a separate troop pay bill is unnecessary: House Republicans passed a bill weeks ago that funds troops, air traffic, floor insurance and more, Johnson argued.
“We’ve done our job,” he said, adding that Republicans should use their franking privileges to get that message out.
Several House Republicans raised their concerns to Johnson directly about his plans to keep the House out on recess indefinitely, according to the people on the call.
GOP Reps. Jay Obernolte of California and Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota warned about the political fallout of Johnson not bringing the chamber back into session as the standoff continues in the Senate, arguing it was becoming increasingly untenable as the shutdown continues.
Other Republicans argued the Senate should change its rules to end the filibuster to pass legislation ensuring troops are paid and the shutdown ends.
But putting a standalone troop pay bill on the floor would lessen GOP leaders’ leverage to push Senate Democrats to simply pass the House-approved stopgap. And in another complication for GOP leaders, Trump has said he will get military members their pay regardless. White House officials privately say they will move around funds to pay troops if Congress doesn’t act.
But Johnson’s argument that a troop pay bill wouldn’t clear the Senate is encountering skepticism. Republicans believe Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) would not block that legislation from passing via unanimous consent; his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rank-and-file Senate Democrats widely believe that standalone bill would pass, as well.
“We have no idea what Speaker Johnson is talking about,” an aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in response to the claim that the Senate would block the bill.
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