President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to find a way to meet the shortfalls coming up for military payrolls should the government shutdown continue. The administration will be using $8 billion in unobligated research and development funds to pay for the shortfall for now.
The President wrote, “If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th. That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to do this.”
As the federal government shutdown ensues, President Donald Trump announced Saturday his administration will pay U.S. service members so they would not miss their Oct. 15 paycheck.
Trump said his administration has identified funding to pay the 1.3 million active duty troops expected to miss their next paycheck and will direct Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to ensure they are paid. The announcement comes as Senate Democrats continue to drag their feet in reopening the government.
“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to do this.”
The Office of Management and Budget notified Congress the Pentagon will pull $8 billion in unobligated research and development funds—which Congress made available for two years—to pay the U.S. service members, Politico reported.