US Military Can't Pay Troops, Can Still Fund Wars
So, American soldiers might not get paid, but rest assured, the legislative branch is still hard at work ensuring financial commitments to others are met. For instance, in April 2024, Congress passed HR 8035, allocating $26.4 billion in military aid to Israel, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the U.S. military's own potential pay freeze. This bill passed with overwhelming
bipartisan support, underscoring exactly where congressional priorities lie. Remember, this isn't pocket change—it's more than double what the U.S. provided in military assistance to Ukraine in all of 2023. One might charitably wonder how a nation struggles to process its own payroll but manages to fast-track billions overseas. Or perhaps it's simply a matter of differing definitions of 'national
security.' After all, keeping bombs flying elsewhere ensures domestic payroll crises stay conveniently out of sight, out of mind. The optics are, shall we say, a stark reminder of who truly benefits from perpetual conflict financing.