Trump says military salaries will be paid during the US government shutdown

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Donald Trump said his administration has “set aside money” to pay US troops during the federal government shutdown, preventing a potential flashpoint in the showdown between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

Trump’s move could relieve some pressure from Republicans in Congress, who have been facing calls to find a way to pay US military personnel on October 15, which would mark the first lost paycheck due to the shutdown.

“I am using my authority, as Commander-in-Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to pay our troops on October 15,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

“We have identified the funds needed to do this, and Minister Hegseth will use them to pay our troops.”

Military personnel are being asked to work during the lockdown despite not receiving any pay.

It was not clear how much money was “identified”, its source, or whether it was enough to fully cover all military pay checks on October 15. The Pentagon referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget. The White House and Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to requests for details.

The Pentagon received nearly $156 billion in new funding from Trump Big, beautiful bill During the summer.

The government entered the 11th day of its shutdown on Saturday, as Republicans and Democrats remained deadlocked over a stopgap bill to keep the government funded until late November. While Republicans control Congress, they need at least seven Democrats to help them pass the so-called continuing resolution and reopen the funding spigot.

Democrats have refused to support the measure unless Republicans negotiate an extension of health insurance subsidies that expire at the end of the year, threatening to raise the cost of medical coverage for millions of Americans.

Both parties have blamed the other for the closure.

On Friday, the administration escalated the political fight — along with the economic risks — by following through on the threat to launch Firing federal workers always.

The White House was counting on Democratic concessions, but most opposition lawmakers formed a united front in refusing to give up their demand. Republicans were particularly at risk of having to soften their stance on the issue of paying troops.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who declined to call his chamber back into session during the shutdown, met an emotional plea from a Republican military spouse on Thursday to pass legislation ensuring troops get their paychecks next week.

Samantha from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, called public broadcaster C-SPAN to tell Johnson live on air that her two “medically fragile” children “could die” if her husband did not get paid on October 15.

“We live paycheck to paycheck,” she said, and her family’s next paycheck is essential for her to get their medications for her children.

“As a Republican, I am very disappointed in my party, and very disappointed in you,” she told Johnson. “You can stop this, and you can be the one who can say the military is getting paid.”

Johnson blamed Democrats in his response: “Republicans are the ones who turn it over to you. We had a vote on paying the troops. It was going on three weeks ago… It’s the Democrats who keep you from getting a check.”

“I will not allow Democrats to hold our military and the entire security of our nation hostage,” Trump said on Saturday.