On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that he is instructing Defense Department officials to ensure that members of the military receive their paychecks next week, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. In a post on Truth Social, 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. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
This announcement comes as concerns grow among Trump administration officials and lawmakers across party lines regarding the potential for military personnel to miss their paycheck on October 15. The government shutdown has now lasted for ten days, raising alarms for many service members and their families. As of Saturday, representatives from the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Defense Department had not responded to inquiries from NBC News regarding the situation.
In his Truth Social post, Trump attributed the ongoing shutdown to the actions of Democrats, specifically calling out Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. He asserted, “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.”
The inability of Senate lawmakers to reach a 60-vote threshold on a temporary funding measure has exacerbated the situation. Last month, the House passed a temporary funding bill that would keep the government operational at prior funding levels through November 21, with all Republicans supporting it and all but one Democrat opposing it. However, Senate Democrats have yet to join Republicans in voting for this bill.
Instead, Senate Democratic leadership has proposed an alternative funding measure that aims to keep the government open through the end of October while restoring cuts to Medicaid made by Republicans earlier this year. This Democratic-backed package also seeks to extend federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act recipients, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Unfortunately, Republicans have not supported this measure either.
On Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism that the White House would find a way to ensure troops are paid by the October 15 deadline. He stated, “This gets real for families, a lot of military families who live paycheck to paycheck, a lot of American families who live paycheck to paycheck, who are federal employees.” Thune emphasized that the White House will likely need to make critical decisions regarding fund allocation to avoid the impact of missed paychecks.
As the shutdown continues, the Trump administration has begun laying off thousands of federal workers across various agencies. The situation has prompted anxiety among military families, many of whom are dependent on timely paychecks for essential expenses, including medication. During a call with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a military spouse expressed her distress over her family’s financial situation, stating that without the paycheck, her children would not have access to necessary medication.
In response to the ongoing crisis, House Democrats have pushed for a standalone piece of legislation that would guarantee pay for troops during the government shutdown. Meanwhile, Johnson informed House lawmakers on Friday that no votes were scheduled for the following week, prolonging the absence of lawmakers from Washington. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Republican leadership, stating, “Republicans have completely abdicated their governance responsibility by cancelling votes in the House for a third consecutive week.”
The situation remains tense as military families and federal employees navigate the uncertainty caused by the government shutdown, with many hoping for a resolution that ensures timely pay and restores essential services.
