When Washington stalls, Trump acts.
According to a Fox News report, President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a directive ordering the Department of War to keep paying U.S. troops despite the ongoing government shutdown, bypassing Congress after weeks of failed negotiations.
The White House said the move was essential to protect “military readiness” as the budget standoff entered its third week.
The order, National Security Presidential Memorandum-8 (NSPM-8), authorizes the department to use available fiscal year 2026 funds to cover military pay and allowances.
“The current appropriations lapse presents a serious and unacceptable threat to military readiness and the ability of our Armed Forces to protect and defend our Nation,” the memo states.
Trump invoked his Article II powers as commander-in-chief to issue the order, covering active-duty troops and reservists on service orders. The directive limits spending to funds legally tied to military pay, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
More than one million service members were expected to miss paychecks starting this week if Congress didn’t act. Trump’s move breaks from past presidents who often waited for bipartisan deals instead of intervening directly.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) told Fox News Digital that “Trump’s mid-month action was welcome news to the military community. But now that same community is anxious about what happens at the end of the month, where mortgages and rents and car payments all become due.”
“Democrats were wrong to try to use troop pay as leverage to accomplish their political goals. And it would be wrong, it would be just as wrong, for a Republican to hope that that lack of pay would be a catalyst to get Democrats to acquiesce,” LaLota said. “[Trump is] protecting the troops when Congress won’t.”
More over at Fox News:
Trump instructs Pentagon to ensure troops are paid despite government shutdown https://t.co/Q7AdXkMp9p
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) October 16, 2025
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