On Saturday, President Trump announced that he would leverage his power as commander in chief to ensure military personnel are compensated even amidst the ongoing government shutdown that has affected federal employees.
Trump criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, warning that if the government remains closed past October 15, military service members and Pentagon staff could miss their paychecks.
“This is why I am using my authority as Commander in Chief to instruct Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to utilize all necessary funds to ensure our troops are PAID on October 15,” Trump stated via Truth Social. “We have identified the necessary funds, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to pay OUR TROOPS.”
He did not elaborate on the sources of these funds. An amendment proposed by Democrats aimed at providing pay for active duty soldiers did not pass on Friday.
Trump’s statements came shortly after it was revealed that over 4,000 federal employees would be laid off due to “Reductions in Force” as previously threatened by him and his administration.
The official filing mentioned that a significant number of those affected are from agencies that have had conflicts with Trump, including the CDC, IRS, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
While Trump is set to travel to the Middle East to celebrate a deal aimed at mitigating the conflict in Gaza, he accused Democrats of jeopardizing military and national security by holding the situation “HOSTAGE.”
“The Radical Left Democrats should REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and we can collaborate on healthcare and other issues they wish to dismantle,” he expressed. “Thank you for addressing this important matter!”
Trump emphasized that if troops do not receive their rightful pay, Schumer would be to blame.
The reality of military personnel potentially working unpaid, often in dangerous situations overseas, adds pressure regarding the shutdown.
As discussions between the White House and Congress seem stagnant, the possibility of tapping into tariff revenue to fund military salaries has been proposed as a workaround.
Under the current shutdown conditions, Trump’s rebranded War Department, like other federal agencies, is unable to issue payroll since Congress controls all funding through the appropriations process.
Democrats, who previously agreed to concessions to prevent a shutdown in March, have thus far resisted efforts to negotiate changes to Medicaid cuts in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and are insisting that Republicans fund expiring Obamacare health insurance premium subsidies.
Other consequences of the shutdown are already being felt, with institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Zoo closing their doors on Saturday. Additionally, various government programs, spanning from agricultural initiatives to loan applications and tax inquiry services, are either grinding to a halt or experiencing significant delays.
