Trump Orders Pentagon to Secure Military Pay Amidst Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump delivered a statement during a White House briefing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Trump announced measures to ensure that military salaries are disbursed as scheduled next week, despite the federal budget impasse.

"Exercising my powers as Commander in Chief, I've instructed our Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to utilize all accessible funds to pay our military personnel by October 15." Trump announced. "We have located the necessary finances, and Secretary Hegseth is tasked with executing the payments."

There was concern that active-duty service members might not receive their salaries as expected on October 15 due to the ongoing shutdown.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth supported Trump's decision on social media, emphasizing the President’s commitment to the military.

According to a White House source, the Department of Defense plans to allocate research and development funds to cover military salaries. These funds are accessible for two years, although the exact financial details remain undisclosed.

Previously, at a naval function in Norfolk, Virginia, Trump had pledged to ensure that military members receive their pay despite governmental financial freezes.