US Politics
Trump orders White House to use all available funds to pay military while firing fed workers
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President Donald Trump announced Saturday that military service members will receive their paychecks during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to utilize “all available funds” to ensure troops are compensated, citing his authority as Commander in Chief in making this decision.
Hegseth reacted to the news on X, sharing a screenshot of Trump’s announcement and writing, “President Trump delivers for the troops.”
The shutdown, starting October 1, furloughed many federal workers, while active-duty military faced potential missed paychecks despite being required to work.
Trump’s announcement that Hegseth could use “identified funds” to pay troops ensures that they received their scheduled pay on October 15.
The source of the funds to cover military pay has not been publicly disclosed.
A White House spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.
The Department of Defense received nearly $160 billion in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law in July, which may be leveraged to continue operations during the shutdown. However, the administration has not specified whether these funds are being used for payroll purposes.
As the shutdown extends into its third week, about 750,000 federal workers remain furloughed. While Republicans control both chambers of Congress, they lack the votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, leaving the government closed and negotiations stalled.
The White House budget officer announced Friday that mass federal worker layoffs have begun. Over 4,000 employees are expected to be affected, with the largest cuts at Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, and Housing departments.
Other agencies, including Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency, will also see significant staff reductions. Specific program impacts remain unclear.
Democrats are demanding the continuation of health insurance subsidies as part of any agreement to reopen the government.
Earlier legislative efforts to protect military pay during shutdowns lacked support, with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune showing little interest in new proposals. They argue that Democrats are blocking a broader GOP-led bill that would also ensure military compensation.
The shutdown continues with no clear resolution in sight.