Blumenthal Seeks Confirmation of Prompt Payment for DC National Guard

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following reports that the recently mobilized members of the District of Columbia National Guard have not yet received individual orders, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote President Donald Trump today seeking confirmation that there will be no delay paying these Guardsmen for their service.

“While I recognize that these Soldiers will be compensated eventually, I am troubled by the prospect of servicemembers not knowing when they will be paid next. Any delay in compensation for their service will place many Guardsmen in financial hardship. Even though servicemembers understand that they will be compensated at some point, they should not have to wonder when exactly their next paycheck will come,” Blumenthal wrote.

“If a Guardsmen does not know whether he or she will be paid in two weeks or six weeks, the financial stress they may experience could be severe. Unlike other National Guard units, the D.C. National Guard falls directly under the President’s command, and you are ultimately responsible for their safety and sustainment.”

When the National Guard is mobilized, its members receive individual orders to justify their absence from their civilian careers and guarantee their benefits. These orders outline critical information, including the length and location of the mobilization, which Guardsmen provide to their employers to use their rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and receive state or federal benefits while serving. Although there may be a delay in issuing individual orders in the case of an unexpected natural disaster, Guardsmen expect to receive their orders within the first several days of a mobilization for support missions that are not a response to an emergency. If individual orders are not issued in a timely manner, Guardsmen may miss the monthly payment cycle deadline, which could result in a significant delay in their paycheck.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Mr. President,

I write to express my serious concern regarding the recent mobilization of the District of Columbia National Guard for law enforcement support operations, reportedly without the advanced notice necessary to ensure that its members will be promptly compensated for their service. Your Administration has reportedly not yet issued these servicemembers individual orders. Absent such orders, these servicemembers may sacrifice pay in their civilian jobs without being eligible to be compensated by the military in a timely fashion. I ask that you resolve any administrative or budgetary issues that are causing this delay to ensure that the mobilized Guardsmen are paid in a timely manner for their service.

The National Guard occupies a unique position in our national defense and homeland security framework. Guardsmen are routinely asked to leave their families, schools, and civilian jobs to serve in emergency situations and overseas in combat zones. They sacrifice time and compensation from their civilian careers to support their communities during peace and war time. As you know, when the National Guard mobilizes for an extended period of time, as you appear to intend in this case, they receive individual orders ahead of time to justify their absence from their civilian careers and guarantee their benefits. This includes their salaries, housing allowances, and medical coverage.

While I recognize that these Soldiers will be compensated eventually, I am troubled by the prospect of servicemembers not knowing when they will be paid next. Any delay in compensation for their service will place many Guardsmen in financial hardship. Even though servicemembers understand that they will be compensated at some point, they should not have to wonder when exactly their next paycheck will come. If a Guardsmen does not know whether he or she will be paid in two weeks or six weeks, they financial stress they may experience could be severe.

Unlike other National Guard units, the D.C. National Guard falls directly under the President’s command, and you are ultimately responsible for their safety and sustainment. I respectfully request a response to this letter by Monday, August 18th, 2025, confirming that these Guardsmen will be paid on time. Our National Guard members consistently answer the call to duty without hesitation and without failure. As Commander-in-Chief, you should honor your commitments to those you command.

Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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