US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that his administration has devised a plan to ensure that troops are paid during the federal government shutdown. Trump stated that he has directed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to utilize all available funds to ensure that troops receive their pay on October 15th. The president mentioned in a post on Truth Social that he is leveraging his authority as Commander in Chief to address the issue.
“We have identified funds for this purpose, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to ensure our troops are paid,” Trump confirmed. However, specific details regarding the funding sources and the total amount allocated for troop salaries were not disclosed.
The White House did not provide immediate information on the funds to be utilized, redirecting inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget through a spokesperson from the Pentagon. The announcement comes on the 11th day of the ongoing government shutdown, which originated from a funding deadlock with minority congressional Democrats.
Despite the Republican Party’s control over the House of Representatives and the Senate, a bipartisan effort is required in the Senate to secure the necessary 60 votes for passing a spending bill. Democrats are leveraging this situation to advocate for the continuation and expansion of healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, linking it to their support for a government spending bill.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that he will not allow the Democrats to use the government shutdown as leverage concerning military and national security matters. He expressed willingness to collaborate with Democrats on healthcare once the government reopens.
As the impasse continues without a clear resolution in sight, the administration has initiated the process of laying off several federal workers, in line with Trump’s previous warnings. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called minority Democrats back to Washington for a meeting to address the shutdown and healthcare crisis, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision not to schedule legislative sessions until the shutdown is resolved.