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Donald Trump announced that his administration has “identified funds” to pay US troops despite the federal government shutdown, alleviating some tension in the ongoing conflict between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

This decision might relieve some pressure on congressional Republicans, who were under pressure to find a solution to ensure US military personnel receive payment on October 15, the date they would have missed their first paycheck during the shutdown.

Trump stated on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, “I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”

“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS”.

A defense department official noted that approximately $8 billion in unobligated research, development, testing, and evaluation funds from the previous fiscal year would be used to cover the paychecks.

Military personnel are required to work during a shutdown despite receiving no pay.

The Pentagon received approximately $156bn in new funding from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act over the summer.

The shutdown entered its 11th day on Saturday, with Republicans and Democrats still at an impasse regarding a stopgap bill to fund the government through late November. Although Republicans control Congress, they require at least seven Democrats to assist in passing their continuing resolution to restore funding.

Democrats have stood firm against supporting the measure unless Republicans agree to negotiate an extension of health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, which could lead to higher medical coverage costs for millions of Americans.

Both parties have blamed the other for the shutdown.

On Friday the administration escalated the political fight — along with the economic risks — by following through on a threat to begin firing federal workers permanently.

The White House had been banking on Democrats conceding, but most opposition lawmakers have presented a united front in refusing to give up their demand. Republicans were particularly at risk of having to moderate their stance over the troop pay issue.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has refused to call his chamber back into session during the shutdown, was met with an emotional plea from a Republican military wife on Thursday to pass legislation to ensure troops get their pay cheques next week.

Samantha of Fort Belvoir, Virginia called in to public broadcaster C-SPAN to tell Johnson live on air that her two “medically fragile” children “could die” if her husband is not paid on October 15.

“We live pay cheque to pay cheque”, she said, and her family’s next pay cheque is essential for her to get her children their medication.

“As a Republican, I’m very disappointed in my party, and I’m very disappointed in you”, she told Johnson. “You could stop this, and you could be the one that could say military is getting paid.”

Johnson blamed Democrats in his reply: “Republicans are the ones delivering for you. We had a vote to pay the troops. It was the continuing resolution three weeks ago . . . The Democrats are the ones that are preventing you from getting a cheque”.

Trump on Saturday said: “I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE”.