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The president then announced that he was invoking his authority as Commander in Chief to make sure the military gets paid.
“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,” Trump continued. “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”
Trump also delivered a strong warning to congressional Democrats, accusing them of holding America’s security hostage for political leverage.
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” Trump added. “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.”
This announcement comes as the shutdown enters its second week, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees with only partial pay and military families bracing for the possibility of no income. The Pentagon had already issued warnings to service members that their October 15 paychecks could be delayed if Congress didn’t act.
Behind the scenes, the Trump administration has spent days reviewing legal options to bypass the funding gridlock. A senior White House official told reporters Thursday that Trump is “exploring every legal avenue” to guarantee that military pay goes out on time, with or without congressional cooperation.
Republicans have firmly placed the blame for the crisis on Senate Democrats, who have repeatedly voted down clean funding bills. Democrats, however, have demanded additional measures tied to health care spending and the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, conditions Republicans have called “nonstarters” during a shutdown.
Supporters of the president have praised the move as a show of strength and leadership. Rep. Jenn Kiggans, R-Va., a Navy veteran, said the president’s directive shows his commitment to protecting those who serve.
“I thank President Trump for standing up for our men and women in uniform,” Kiggans said. “They should never be used as political pawns. Congress must act to end this shutdown now and fully fund the military.”
Meanwhile, Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have continued to block efforts to reopen the government, digging in on their demands.
“Democrats have now voted EIGHT TIMES to BLOCK pay for our troops and federal workers. Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats think every day of this shutdown ‘gets better’ for them — even as it hurts hardworking Americans. Once again, Democrats are putting AMERICANS LAST,” Speaker of the House and Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson said in a blistering statement.
Trump’s order is just the latest in a string of unilateral actions aimed at countering the effects of what he has called a “Democrat-engineered shutdown.” The president has signaled that he’s prepared to take further steps to protect Americans if Democrats continue to obstruct funding bills.
With just days until the military’s next scheduled payday, Trump’s directive sends a clear message: he won’t let politics punish the men and women who wear the uniform. Whether Democrats will shift their stance remains uncertain, but one thing is clear — this fight is far from over.
