Trump: Military Will Get Paid Despite Democrat Shutdown

President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s taking action to ensure that U.S. service members will still receive their paychecks on October 15, despite what he described as a “Radical Left Shutdown” orchestrated by Senate Democrats.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed War Secretary Pete Hegseth to immediately secure and distribute funds for troop payments—even as parts of the federal government remain unfunded.

“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE,” Trump wrote. He accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of blocking efforts to keep the government open, warning that inaction would have resulted in U.S. troops missing their pay.

“We have identified funds to do this,” Trump said, noting that Hegseth had been authorized to bypass the shutdown impasse to keep military families financially secure.

Hegseth confirmed the president’s directive, saying, “President Trump delivers for the troops.” He also blasted Schumer and praised House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for “blanketing the airwaves” to tell Americans what’s really happening.

“Unlike the Democrats, this Administration will ensure that no military-dependent child goes without health care or medicine during the Democrat Government Shutdown,” Hegseth said.

Trump concluded his message with a demand that Democrats vote to reopen the government and negotiate policy disagreements without jeopardizing national security.

“The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy,” he said.

The October standoff follows growing tension over spending bills, with Trump and Republicans accusing Democrats of using the shutdown to reverse legislation they couldn’t defeat through normal votes.