Trump Administration Ensures Military Pay Amid Government Shutdown Challenges
The Trump administration is set to pay military members on Friday using a combination of legislative and Defense Department funds to avoid missing a pay period for troops during the ongoing government shutdown. Service members, considered essential federal employees, are required to work during funding lapses but typically aren't paid during shutdowns. Approximately $2.5 billion from the military housing fund, part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, will be utilized for this purpose, along with $1.4 billion each from the Pentagon's research and development account and procurement account.
This plan totals about $5.3 billion, which is slightly less than the $6.5 billion previously used to cover troops’ paychecks. The reason for the variance in amounts remains unclear. The administration's paycheck strategy for Friday was first reported by Axios. Despite the government shutdown, President Trump is committed to ensuring that troops are taken care of, according to a Pentagon official. The Pentagon recently received a $130 million anonymous donation to support troops during the shutdown, sparking concerns from some Democrats about the legality and ethics of the donation.
Vice President JD Vance expressed confidence that troops would be paid on Friday, although not everyone would receive payment due to the challenges posed by the shutdown. He emphasized the need for Democratic cooperation to address the broader impacts of the shutdown, such as potential food stamp benefit cuts. The administration is striving to maintain essential services amid the shutdown and is calling on Democrats to assist in resolving the situation.