Cole Statement on America’s Heroes Being Paid Despite Democrat Obstruction
October 15, 2025
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement regarding troops being paid on time today. The Democrat-driven shutdown sidelined Congress and the Article 1 progress that supported their pay, jeopardizing the livelihoods of service members and their families. With a nonpartisan funding extension blocked by Senate Democrats, President Trump acted to protect those who protect us. Negative consequences, interrupted services, and more risked paychecks will continue unless a handful of Democrats join Republicans to meet the 60-vote threshold required in the Senate:
“It’s an unfortunate truth that Democrats voted to deny our troops paychecks. The threat to the livelihoods of our active-duty heroes would have been realized today without President Trump taking action. He was forced to address the difficult situation of determining whether the U.S. government can pay the nation’s military. This is exactly why nearly a month ago, House Republicans voted to fund the entire federal government – avoiding the need to make such executive determinations. Instead of standing with House Republicans and exercising the power of the purse, House and Senate Democrats thought shutting down the entire government and handing the keys to OMB was the better path forward. Minority Leaders Jeffries and Schumer have sidelined Congress and good faith efforts toward regular order. They’ve decided that progressive popularity matters more than Americans being paid on time, nutrition assistance for babies, and health services for our seniors. I continue to urge them to reconsider and make the right decision for the American people. True courage is taking responsible action for the nation even when politics makes it inconvenient.”
“It’s an unfortunate truth that Democrats voted to deny our troops paychecks. The threat to the livelihoods of our active-duty heroes would have been realized today without President Trump taking action. He was forced to address the difficult situation of determining whether the U.S. government can pay the nation’s military. This is exactly why nearly a month ago, House Republicans voted to fund the entire federal government – avoiding the need to make such executive determinations. Instead of standing with House Republicans and exercising the power of the purse, House and Senate Democrats thought shutting down the entire government and handing the keys to OMB was the better path forward. Minority Leaders Jeffries and Schumer have sidelined Congress and good faith efforts toward regular order. They’ve decided that progressive popularity matters more than Americans being paid on time, nutrition assistance for babies, and health services for our seniors. I continue to urge them to reconsider and make the right decision for the American people. True courage is taking responsible action for the nation even when politics makes it inconvenient.”
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