President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum Tuesday directing the Secretary of War to use existing Department of War funds to ensure that U.S. troops receive their October 15 paychecks despite the ongoing government shutdown.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Trump first announced the plan on October 11, saying his administration had “identified funds” to guarantee military pay amid the shutdown.
The order, issued as the lapse in funding entered its fifteenth day, formalizes that plan to sustain military pay during the funding lapse.
Citing his authority as Commander in Chief under Article II of the Constitution, Trump instructed the Secretary of War to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget to use any appropriated funds still available in Fiscal Year 2026 for pay and allowances covering both active-duty and Reserve personnel.
Trump wrote that the potential interruption of military pay “presents a serious and unacceptable threat to military readiness and the ability of our Armed Forces to protect and defend our Nation.”
Funds must have “a reasonable, logical relationship to the pay and allowances of military personnel,” in accordance with federal statute 31 U.S.C. 1301(a), according to the memorandum.
At the conclusion of the shutdown, the directive instructs the Department of War to rebalance its accounts to maintain planned operations.
The move offers immediate relief for service members and their families as congressional negotiations remain at a standstill more than two weeks into the shutdown.
