"Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that he has found a way to pay US military troops despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, saying he has instructed his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, to release funds. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: I am using my authority, as commander-in-chief, to direct our secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our troops PAID on October 15. Trump said he had identified the funds to make the payments happen, adding: I will not allow the Democrats to hold our military, and the entire security of our nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous government shutdown. The radical left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT."
"The recent federal government shutdown began on 1 October and is the first since a 35-day closure that happened in December 2018 and extended into the new year during Trump's first presidential term. The shutdown came as Democrats were looking to regain their footing with voters, who re-elected Trump last year and relegated them to the minority in both chambers of Congress. More than 1.3 million military personnel across the country would not have received their first post-shutdown paychecks this month, only getting paid for the 21-30 September period. An estimated 750,000 federal employees have also been furloughed. As the Hill reported, however, federal workers are generally paid once a shutdown ends, whether they are furloughed or working. On Thursday, the US Senate remained deadlocked on legislation to end the shutdown, even as Trump repeated his threat to make Democrats pay for the funding lapse that has closed federal agencies and furloughed employees across the nation. Speaking to Punchbowl News, the Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, expressed confidence in the strategy, saying: Every day gets better for us."
Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use available funds to pay U.S. troops on October 15, invoking his commander-in-chief authority. He said he identified funds for the payments and accused Democrats of holding the military and national security hostage during the shutdown, urging them to reopen the government. The shutdown began October 1 and is the first since a 35-day closure in December 2018. More than 1.3 million military personnel would miss post-shutdown paychecks, receiving pay only for September 21–30, and about 750,000 federal employees were furloughed. Federal law requires back pay once a shutdown ends, while the Senate remained deadlocked.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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