President Grants Defense Secretary Authority to Pay Military Members During Shutdown Without Congress Approval
The president has granted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the authority to reallocate funds to pay military members without Congress approval. President Trump signed a memorandum expanding the administration's power to use unspent federal funds for military pay during the government shutdown, challenging Congress's spending authority. The memorandum allows Hegseth to repurpose funds with coordination from the White House budget office, using available funds from the previous fiscal year for military pay.
Democrats have criticized Trump's actions as potentially illegal and undermining Congress's constitutional power, while Republicans have dared them to challenge military pay in court. The memo gives the administration broader authority to repurpose funds, including tapping into unspent research and testing money to pay the troops. Trump expressed concern that active duty military personnel might miss their next paychecks due to the shutdown, posing a threat to military readiness and national defense.
The government shutdown, now over two weeks long, stems from Democratic demands for changes to health care policy to prevent cost increases for many Americans. The administration's move to ensure military pay during the shutdown has sparked controversy and legal challenges. The president's memorandum grants Hegseth significant authority to address the issue of military pay without congressional approval, highlighting the ongoing power struggle between the executive and legislative branches.