WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has instructed the Defense Department to utilize “all available funds” to ensure U.S. troops receive their pay on Wednesday despite the ongoing government shutdown. This temporary solution, however, does not extend to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed.
Trump said in a social media post that he was acting because “our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.”
This directive from the Republican president removes a key pressure point that could have compelled Congress to act, likely prolonging the shutdown—which has now reached day 11—into a third week or even longer. However, no similar measures appear to be in place for federal employees who are also working without pay, with thousands now facing layoffs due to the halted government operations. The White House budget office initiated these layoffs on Friday.
Trump attributed the situation to the Democrats and asserted his authority as commander in chief to instruct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.” He further stated, “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
U.S. service members risked missing their upcoming paycheck on Wednesday after the government ceased operations on October 1st, coinciding with the start of the federal budget cycle. With about 1.3 million active-duty service members, the possibility of troops not being compensated has been a critical issue during discussions among lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the shutdown’s adverse effects.
Trump did not say where he’s getting the money.
One potential funding source could be the billions of dollars allocated to the Defense Department following Trump’s significant tax and spending cut legislation, which he enacted in July. The Congressional Budget Office indicated that such a funding reallocation was feasible.
A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said Pentagon research and development funds would be used to pay the salaries.
Federal employees typically receive back pay once a shutdown concludes, as mandated by a law Trump signed during his first term. However, he recently proposed the idea of not compensating for the missed salaries.
It was unclear if the president’s directive applies to the U.S. Coast Guard, which is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces but is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime.
The nation’s third shutdown in 12 years has again raised anxiety levels among service members and their families as those in uniform are working without pay. While they would receive back pay once the impasse ends, many military families live paycheck to paycheck.
During previous shutdowns, Congress passed legislation to ensure that troops kept earning their salaries, but discussion of taking a similar step by lawmakers appeared to have fizzled out.
Asked earlier this week if he would support a bill to pay the troops, Trump said, “that probably will happen.”
“We’ll take care of it,” he said Wednesday. “Our military is always going to be taken care of.”
The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of federal subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The expiration of those subsidies at the end of the year will result in monthly cost increases for millions of people.
Trump and Republican leaders have said they are open to negotiations on the health subsidies, but insist the government must reopen first.
Both sides appear dug in on their positions, making it unclear when, or how, the shutdown ends.
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