WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to use “all available funds” to guarantee that U.S. military personnel receive their paychecks on October 15, despite ongoing government funding disputes in Congress.
In a statement released from the White House, Trump said his administration had “identified funds” within the Department of Defense to cover military salaries, adding that he would not allow “Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”
The move comes as negotiations over a new federal spending bill have stalled, raising concerns that a prolonged shutdown could disrupt government operations, including military payroll systems.
According to administration officials, Secretary Hegseth and senior Pentagon staff are coordinating with the Treasury Department to reallocate contingency funds to ensure service members are paid on time.
Trump’s directive marks one of the most direct interventions by a sitting president to shield military pay during a budget impasse. Analysts say the decision could help maintain morale within the armed forces and reduce uncertainty among military families facing the prospect of missed paychecks.
Neither the Pentagon nor the Treasury Department immediately provided details on which funds are being redirected to support the initiative. Congressional leaders have yet to respond publicly to the announcement.
The October 15 payroll date will be an early test of whether the administration’s emergency funding measures can bypass the effects of the ongoing shutdown.
