Trump Directs DoD to Ensure Troop Pay During Shutdown, Extending Impasse
President Donald Trump announced on October 11th that he has instructed the Department of Defense to utilize “all available funds” to guarantee U.S. troops receive their paychecks on October 15th, despite the ongoing government shutdown.
In a social media post,President Trump stated his decision stemmed from a desire to prevent “our Brave Troops” from missing their “rightfully due” pay.
This action effectively alleviates one key pressure point that could have spurred Congressional action,likely prolonging the shutdown – already in its eleventh day – into a third week and potentially beyond. Though,no comparable measures appear to be planned for federal employees,with thousands facing layoffs as an inevitable result of the funding lapse,a process initiated by the White House budget office on October 10th.
President Trump attributed the shutdown to Democrats and asserted his authority as commander in Chief to direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.” He added, “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
The potential for missed paychecks on October 15th loomed over the nation’s 1.3 million active-duty service members following the government shutdown on October 1st, the beginning of the federal budget cycle. The prospect of troops going unpaid has been a central concern in discussions among lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the shutdown’s impact.
While the President did not specify the funding source, it is anticipated to draw from the ample funds allocated to the Defense Department through the tax and spending bill signed by Mr. Trump earlier this year. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) previously indicated such a maneuver was feasible.
According to the CBO, “The Governance also could decide to use mandatory funding provided in the 2025 reconciliation act or other sources of mandatory funding to continue activities financed by those direct appropriations at various agencies.”
The CBO specifically identified the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget as departments that received dedicated funding under the aforementioned legislation.
The CBO further noted in a letter responding to inquiries from Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa,that Pentagon funds “could be used to pay active-duty personnel during a shutdown,thus reducing the number of excepted workers who would receive delayed compensation.”
The White House has not yet responded to a request for further details regarding the President’s announcement.
