Trump Orders Pentagon to Pay Troops Despite Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump directed the Pentagon to use all available funds to pay active-duty U.S. troops despite the ongoing government shutdown. The move sidesteps congressional inaction as thousands of federal workers face furloughs. Military paychecks will now go out on schedule October 15.
Trump Pentagon Order on Military Pay Quick Looks
- Trump orders Defense Department to use all funds to pay troops.
- Decision comes amid an extended government shutdown starting Oct. 1.
- Approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members were at risk of missing pay.
- Shutdown enters its 11th day, likely to stretch into a third week.
- Federal civilian workers remain furloughed without a similar pay guarantee.
- Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown and lack of agreement.
- Directive aims to remove pressure point on Congress from military pay concerns.
- Pentagon likely to use funds from 2025 reconciliation act or other mandatory sources.
- Congressional Budget Office confirmed such a move was legally feasible.
- No response yet from the White House on funding specifics.
Trump Orders Pentagon to Pay Troops Despite Shutdown
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the federal government shutdown stretched into its 11th day, President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he had ordered the Defense Department to utilize “all available funds” to ensure that U.S. troops are paid on time despite the ongoing budget impasse.
Trump made the announcement via social media, stating that his directive was meant to prevent active-duty service members from missing their next paycheck, due on October 15.
“Our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due,” he wrote, emphasizing that he was taking action because Congress had failed to do so.
The president’s move removes a key pressure point — the risk of service members going unpaid — that could have otherwise forced a quicker resolution to the shutdown. However, the decision is not being extended to the thousands of furloughed federal civilian employees, many of whom began receiving formal layoff notices Friday.
By ensuring uninterrupted military pay, Trump has eased political pressure on lawmakers but also increased the likelihood that the shutdown could continue well into its third week or longer.
How Trump’s Directive Works
Trump, citing his constitutional authority as commander in chief, directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to identify and deploy the funds necessary to cover military pay.
“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” Trump said.
Although Trump did not specify the exact source of the funds, it is widely believed they stem from mandatory appropriations included in the 2025 reconciliation act — legislation that pumped billions into the Department of Defense through Trump’s tax and spending bill signed earlier this year.
In a recent letter responding to an inquiry by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that the administration could, under certain legal conditions, redirect mandatory funds to ensure continued operations in key departments — including Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, and OMB — during a shutdown.
The CBO wrote, “Some of the Pentagon’s money could be used to pay active-duty personnel during a shutdown, thus reducing the number of excepted workers who would receive delayed compensation.”
This move is significant because without congressional appropriation of new funds, federal agencies are restricted in how they operate — with only “essential” workers allowed to continue under delayed pay conditions. The 1.3 million U.S. service members are considered essential, but under a shutdown, even they would not be paid without executive intervention or new legislation.
Impact and Political Implications
The shutdown began October 1, the start of the new federal fiscal year, due to a standoff between the White House and congressional Democrats over spending levels and immigration enforcement priorities.
Trump has consistently blamed Democrats for the gridlock, accusing them of refusing to fund key administration priorities, including military programs and border enforcement.
His decision to prioritize military pay allows him to underscore his support for the armed forces while painting Democrats as unwilling to compromise. But it also increases uncertainty for civilian federal employees, who are receiving no assurances about their own wages or return to work.
So far, the White House budget office has begun implementing furloughs across non-defense agencies. Federal parks, passport services, and administrative functions have either slowed or shuttered altogether.
The White House has not released further information about the mechanics of the president’s directive, nor did officials respond to media requests for details on how much money will be allocated or how long this arrangement could continue if the shutdown persists.
What’s Next
If the shutdown continues beyond mid-October, the administration may face new pressure to address federal civilian pay, especially as disruptions ripple across air traffic control, social services, and other public-facing departments.
For now, the president’s directive provides temporary stability for the military, while the broader consequences of the shutdown continue to mount.
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