Trump Directs Pentagon to Pay U.S. Troops Amid Prolonged Government Shutdown

Published: October 12, 2025, 22:45 EDT

President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Defense Department to use emergency funds to pay active-duty military personnel as the government shutdown extends into its third week. The move protects troops’ salaries but leaves hundreds of thousands of civilian federal workers still furloughed or working without pay.

Troop Pay Protected as Shutdown Deepens

Trump announced on Saturday that he directed the Pentagon to use “all available funds” to ensure military paychecks are issued on time this Wednesday, despite the ongoing funding lapse. The directive, announced on social media, came as public frustration grows over the 11-day shutdown that began on October 1 — the first day of the federal fiscal year.

“Our brave troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” Trump wrote, emphasizing his intent to protect military families. The White House said the order removes one of the most politically sensitive pressure points that might have forced Congress to reach a funding deal.

While the move guarantees financial security for 1.3 million active-duty service members, it offers no similar protection for hundreds of thousands of civilian federal employees. Many of them are now furloughed or working without pay, with layoffs beginning Friday, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

Political Impasse Extends Government Shutdown

The current standoff marks the nation’s third government shutdown in 12 years. Negotiations between the White House and Congress have stalled over Democrats’ demands that any short-term funding bill include an extension of Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies. Those subsidies, which expired at the end of September, affect millions of Americans facing higher monthly premiums.

Republican lawmakers, aligned with Trump, insist the government must reopen before broader negotiations resume. “We’re ready to talk, but first, we must fund the government,” said a senior Republican aide familiar with the discussions.

Democrats countered that Republicans are prioritizing political leverage over working families. “Extending health subsidies is a matter of basic stability,” said one Democratic lawmaker, calling for bipartisan talks to resume immediately.

Pentagon to Use Research Funds for Temporary Payments

According to a spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget, the Pentagon will reallocate roughly $8 billion in unobligated research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) funds from the previous fiscal year to cover mid-month military paychecks.

The Pentagon confirmed that the funds were identified to ensure uninterrupted pay “in the event the funding lapse continues past October 15.” Officials described the move as temporary and legally permissible under emergency authorities available to the executive branch during federal funding lapses.

It remains unclear whether the directive also applies to the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime rather than the Defense Department. In previous shutdowns, the Coast Guard’s pay was delayed until Congress passed specific legislation to cover it.

Impact on Federal Workers and Military Families

While service members will be paid on schedule, most federal workers will not see paychecks until Congress passes a funding bill. Historically, back pay has been approved retroactively once government operations resume — a policy codified during Trump’s first term.

However, the president recently suggested he may oppose automatic back pay in future shutdowns, calling it “an incentive for inaction.” That statement has drawn criticism from federal employee unions, which accuse the administration of using workers as bargaining tools.

For military families, Trump’s directive provides some immediate relief. Many service members live paycheck to paycheck, and missed payments could disrupt rent, bills, and essential expenses. “It’s a relief, but also frustrating to see others left behind,” said one Army spouse in Virginia, whose husband is deployed overseas.

Congress Silent on Troop Pay Legislation

In prior shutdowns, Congress often passed bipartisan bills guaranteeing continued pay for military personnel. This time, similar proposals have stalled in committee, overshadowed by disputes over healthcare and budget priorities.

Asked earlier this week if he would support a bill ensuring military pay during the impasse, Trump replied, “That probably will happen. We’ll take care of it. Our military is always going to be taken care of.”

Despite the assurance, no legislation has been advanced to formalize the temporary fix. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, appointed earlier this year, said he would follow the president’s directive “to ensure that no active-duty member or their family suffers financially due to congressional inaction.”

Economic and Political Fallout

The shutdown has already disrupted key federal services and created uncertainty across multiple sectors. National parks and museums have closed, new loan processing at the Small Business Administration has halted, and delays are mounting in tax and immigration services.

Economists warn that if the shutdown continues into a fourth week, it could begin to affect quarterly GDP growth. “The immediate hit is minor, but the longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the economic drag,” said analysts at Moody’s Analytics.

Politically, the move to fund troops but not civilian workers could further polarize debate in Washington. Supporters of the directive view it as a necessary step to protect national security, while critics call it a political maneuver designed to shift blame away from the White House.

Uncertain Path Forward

As both sides remain entrenched, there are few signs of an imminent breakthrough. Lawmakers have yet to agree on even a temporary continuing resolution to restore federal funding.

For now, the Pentagon’s redirection of research funds offers only a brief reprieve. Without new legislation, the government’s operations will continue to be limited, and federal employees — apart from active-duty troops — will remain unpaid.

“This is a stopgap, not a solution,” said a senior defense official. “The real fix must come from Congress.”