President Donald Trump has claimed he found a way to pay US military personnel despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, instructing Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to release funds. In a post 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.'
The shutdown, which began on 1 October, is the first since a 35-day closure in 2018-2019 during Trump's first term. It has left more than 1.3 million military personnel facing delayed pay, with only the period from 21-30 September covered. An estimated 750,000 federal employees have also been furloughed.
Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, stating: 'I will not allow the Democrats to hold our military, and the entire security of our nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous government shutdown.' However, federal workers are generally paid retroactively once a shutdown ends, as per legislation passed after the 2018 closure.
The Senate remains deadlocked on ending the shutdown, with top Democrat Chuck Schumer expressing confidence in the party's strategy. Meanwhile, the White House has initiated mass layoffs of federal workers, with hundreds fired across departments including Commerce, Education, and Energy. Union leaders have condemned the move, pledging legal challenges.
