Trump Directs Pentagon to Ensure Military Pay Amid Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to utilize "all available funds" to ensure that U.S. military personnel receive their scheduled paychecks on October 15, despite the ongoing government shutdown. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, "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."

The directive aims to prevent financial hardship for the approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members who were at risk of missing their pay due to the shutdown that began on October 1. The administration plans to source the necessary funds from the Defense Department's research and development budget, which contains unobligated funds from the previous fiscal year.

While this move ensures military pay, it does not extend to the hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been furloughed without pay during the shutdown. The White House Office of Management and Budget has initiated layoffs affecting thousands of government workers across various agencies, including Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Education.

The government shutdown, now in its 11th day, stems from a budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats, primarily over funding for healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Both parties remain entrenched in their positions, making the duration of the shutdown uncertain.