Trump orders troops paid as DC gridlock drags on shutdown

Trump orders troops paid as DC gridlock drags on shutdown

President Donald Trump has stepped in to break Washington’s paralysis, ordering the U.S. military to be paid despite the ongoing government shutdown — a move his critics call political theatre, and his supporters hail as leadership.

In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump said he directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “to use all available funds to get our troops PAID” on October 15, even though the federal government has been shuttered since October 1.

A Pentagon official confirmed to Newsweek that roughly $8 billion in unused defense research and testing funds will be diverted to cover mid-month paychecks for America’s 1.3 million active-duty service members. Without the intervention, troops were expected to miss their next payday — an image the White House could ill afford.

The shutdown — the first since the 35-day lapse of 2018-19, also under Trump — has frozen most federal operations and furloughed tens of thousands of workers as Congress squabbles over a spending bill. Despite Republican control of both chambers, Senate Democrats have blocked Trump’s budget plan, demanding concessions on social programs.

Trump’s order gives him the optics of action while lawmakers flounder. “The soldiers will not suffer because politicians can’t do their jobs,” he wrote — a line already trending across conservative media.

Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget declined comment as Washington remains locked in a blame game with no deal in sight.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump directs $8 billion in unused Pentagon funds to pay troops.

• Move shields 1.3 million service members from shutdown fallout.

• Capitol Hill gridlock deepens as Trump seizes narrative control.

Inspired by Newsweek