Trump orders troop pay amid shutdown, blames Chuck Schumer and Dems for ‘holding military hostage’

WASHINGTON, DC: Military personnel will receive their paychecks on time despite the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, saying he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to use available funds to ensure payments go out on October 15.

Trump orders military pay amid government shutdown

In a sharply worded statement, Trump blamed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats for what he called their “Radical Left Shutdown,” accusing them of blocking military pay during a funding impasse that has paralyzed Washington for nearly two weeks.

“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump said in a post. “If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th. That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”

“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” Trump continued. “I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.” 

Mike Johnson supports Trump’s charge against Senate Dems on pay delay

Trump’s intervention came just hours after House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly urged voters to “call your Democrat Senator” and demand an end to the funding stalemate that threatens to delay military pay.

Johnson accused Senate Democrats of blocking a House-passed continuing resolution that would keep the government open and fund military and federal salaries through November 21. The Senate has now voted down the GOP-backed bill seven times.

“Democrats have voted to block the Republican CR bill to pay our troops EIGHT TIMES over the past 3 weeks! Thankfully, our Republican Commander-in-Chief joins with us in refusing to let military families suffer due to the SCHUMER SHUTDOWN!,” Johnson said. 

Trump moves to protect troop pay as shutdown battle drags on

More than 1.3 million service members were at risk of missing pay beginning October 15, even as they continue reporting for duty under shutdown contingency rules. Federal civilian workers received their last paycheck on Friday for the period ending September 30.

Senators left Washington on October 9 after another failed vote, with Democrats pressing for health care concessions as part of any short-term deal.

Trump, however, said Democrats are using the shutdown as leverage to push unrelated policies.

“The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy,” Trump said.

With Trump’s directive, military paychecks are now expected to go out as scheduled, even without a formal budget agreement. The move effectively sidesteps the immediate crisis that had threatened to disrupt military families’ income.