MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
SUBJECT: Utilization of Available Department of Defense Funds for Military Compensation and Benefits during Appropriations Lapse
The ongoing lapse in appropriations, including the halt in annual funding designated by Congress for military personnel’s compensation and benefits, has now extended to fifteen days. Moreover, congressional leadership has indicated that negotiations have reached an impasse, making the timely enactment of bipartisan legislation to resolve this situation improbable before our active duty personnel are scheduled to receive their next payroll on October 15th. This scenario poses a severe and untenable risk to military readiness and the capacity of our Armed Forces to safeguard our Nation.
In light of this, I, as the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces pursuant to Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution, hereby instruct the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to allocate any available funds appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2026 for the purpose of disbursing military compensation and benefits. This allocation should include not only active duty military personnel but also Reserve component members who have engaged in active duty during the specified pay period. The funds utilized for military compensation and benefits during this lapse must be those identified by the Secretary of Defense as being allocated for purposes that bear a reasonable and logical connection to military personnel compensations, in compliance with existing laws, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a).
Upon the resolution of the current appropriations lapse, all necessary actions should be undertaken, as permitted by law, to realign applicable funding accounts within the Department of Defense in order to maintain continuity of operations and planned activities in line with pre-lapse expenditure expectations.
DONALD J. TRUMP
