The U.S. government shutdown has sparked a flurry of concerns, but President Trump has stepped in to ensure one crucial group remains unaffected: our brave troops. On Saturday, he announced that the Department of Defense would utilize all available funds to guarantee that U.S. service members receive their paychecks on Wednesday, October 15th. This decision comes as a direct response to the looming possibility of troops missing their rightful pay due to the government shutdown, which began on October 1st, marking the start of the federal budget cycle. The U.S. has approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members, and the thought of them going without pay has understandably become a major point of contention during discussions on Capitol Hill.
Trump, in a social media post, stated his intention to act, emphasizing that the troops are rightfully due their pay. He assigned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to execute the plan, saying, "We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS." But where is the money coming from?
It's likely that the funds will be drawn from the billions of dollars injected into the Defense Department through Trump's significant tax and spending cut bill, which he signed during the summer. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has confirmed that such a move is feasible. The CBO also mentioned that the administration could tap into mandatory funding from the 2025 reconciliation act or other mandatory funding sources to maintain activities financed by direct appropriations across various agencies. Departments like the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget are among those that received specific funds under the law, as cited by the CBO.
But here's where it gets controversial... While the troops are being taken care of, no similar action seems to be in place for federal workers, many of whom are facing layoffs during the government shutdown. The White House budget office began this process on Friday.
And this is the part most people miss... The CBO noted that some of the Pentagon's funds could be used to pay active-duty personnel during the shutdown, thereby reducing the number of excepted workers who would experience delayed compensation. The White House has yet to provide specific details about the source of these funds.
What do you think about this decision? Do you agree with the prioritization of military pay during the shutdown, or do you believe other federal workers should also be protected? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
