DFAS Warns Congress: Payroll Processing Deadline Missed, Full Pay Cycle Lost

On October 10, 2025 — the 10th day of the government shutdown — the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announced that it had missed the two-business-day processing deadline required to issue military paychecks on the standard semi-monthly schedule. DFAS processes approximately $120 billion in military pay annually and requires a minimum two-day lead time to execute a payroll run. With the shutdown entering its second week and no appropriations bill in sight, the agency confirmed that service members would receive no pay for the October 1–15 pay period. Army Emergency Relief and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society reported that emergency assistance applications had increased by more than 300% compared to the same period in 2024. USAA simultaneously announced a $150 million zero-interest emergency loan program for affected members.