Trump directs the Pentagon to use all available funds' to ensure troops are paid despite shutdown

"President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has directed the Defense Department to use all available funds to ensure U.S. troops are paid Wednesday despite the government shutdown, a short-term fix that will not apply to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed. Trump said in a social media post that he was acting because our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th."

"The White House budget office started the layoffs on Friday. Trump blamed Democrats and said he was exercising his authority as commander in chief to direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. The Republican president added, We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS."

"U.S service members were in danger of not receiving their next paycheck on Wednesday after the government shut down on Oct. 1, the start of the federal budget cycle. The U.S. has about 1.3 million active-duty service members, and the prospect of troops going without pay has been a focal point when lawmakers on Capitol Hill have discussed the shutdown's negative impact. Trump did not say where he's getting the money."

The Defense Department will use available funds to ensure U.S. troops receive pay on Wednesday despite a continuing government shutdown. The measure is a short-term fix that does not extend to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers. The White House budget office has begun layoffs affecting some federal employees. The action removes a potential pressure point that might have forced congressional action and increases the likelihood that the shutdown will extend beyond its current duration. About 1.3 million active-duty service members face pay concerns, and no source for the troop payments was publicly specified.

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