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President Donald Trump said Saturday that all 1.3 million active-duty U.S. service members will receive their Oct. 15 paychecks despite the ongoing government shutdown, invoking his authority as commander-in-chief to override the normal budget rules.
Under typical shutdown procedures, military personnel are required to report for duty but do not receive pay until funding is restored by Congress. The president said he ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to locate alternative funds to ensure troops are paid on time.
“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”
The president did not specify which accounts would be used to cover payroll. The Pentagon has not yet released details, but officials have confirmed that the order came directly from the White House.
The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government operating. Lawmakers remain blocked, with both parties blaming each other for the lapse in funding.
A contingency plan released by the Department of Defense before the shutdown took effect said approximately 334,900 civilian Pentagon employees would be furloughed. While troops continue working during a shutdown, they are normally among those who must wait for back pay once Congress approves funding.
The president’s directive marks a significant departure from past shutdowns, when service members were left without pay until the government reopened. During the 35-day shutdown in Trump’s first term, military members waited weeks to receive their earnings.
The president has made military pay a central talking point during the shutdown, arguing that Democrats are jeopardizing national security by refusing to approve funding without policy concessions.
It remains unclear whether similar directives will be issued to protect other essential personnel, such as federal law enforcement officers and Transportation Security Administration employees, who are also required to work without pay during shutdowns. The administration has also not yet said whether the Oct. 30 military payday or future pay periods will be covered without congressional action.