After Democrats Block Funding, Trump Directs Pentagon to Pay Military Families During Government Shutdown

Our nation’s military families, those who sacrifice daily for our freedom, were staring down an October 15 deadline that would leave them without paychecks. These aren’t wealthy bureaucrats; these are families living paycheck to paycheck, choosing between groceries and gas, medicine and mortgage payments. But hey, what’s new in Washington, right?

The shutdown has already forced thousands of federal layoffs, shuttered museums, and halted services. But nothing illustrates the callousness of this crisis quite like unpaid troops defending a nation whose leaders can’t keep the lights on.

Then President Trump cut through the congressional gridlock with decisive action. Rather than allow our service members to become victims of Democratic obstruction, he’s directing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to ensure our troops get paid, shutdown or no shutdown.

“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 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”

The administration has identified research and development funds—two years’ worth—to ensure our military families don’t suffer for Congress’s failures. It’s creative problem-solving born of necessity, the kind of leadership that puts results over rhetoric.

Meanwhile, what has been the Democratic response? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently told reporters, “Every day gets better for us.” I had to read that quote three times to believe it; the man is actually gloating while military families wonder how they’ll pay rent and parents worry about their children’s medication.

Democrats have had multiple opportunities to fund the government. House Republicans passed a clean funding bill. Senate Republicans brought proposals to the floor. And yet, each time, Democrats blocked them, holding military pay hostage to demands for expanded Obamacare subsidies.

The human toll became heartbreakingly clear when a military spouse confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson on C-SPAN. Through tears, she explained that without the October 15 paycheck, her children wouldn’t get their life-saving medication.

Democrats who lecture us about compassion are literally celebrating while military children go without medicine. They’ve calculated that political damage to Republicans is worth the suffering of military families.