Executive Order Ensures Military Pay During Shutdown
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel receive their pay despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to reports from the White House. The order addresses one of the most sensitive issues in the bitter standoff over federal spending that has stretched into its third week.
According to the executive order text shared by the White House, Trump directed Pentagon officials “to use for the purpose of pay and allowances any funds appropriated by the Congress that remain available for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2026 to accomplish the scheduled disbursement of military pay and allowances for active duty military personnel.” The report states that approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members had been at risk of missing their mid-month paychecks.
Political Standoff Continues Amid Pay Guarantee
The political battle between Trump’s Republican Party and congressional Democrats continues despite the executive action, with both sides trading accusations about who is responsible for the shutdown. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly accused Democrats of holding troops “hostage” by refusing to agree to a Republican spending plan to reopen the government.
“The most pro-shutdown Democrats actually represent the most active duty service members back home, whom they have taken hostage in this insidious political game,” Johnson told a press conference on Wednesday, according to the Reuters report. Democrats have countered by blaming Republicans for refusing to discuss compromise, sources indicate.
Historical Precedent for Military Pay Protection
Analysts suggest there is historical precedent for ensuring military personnel receive pay during government shutdowns. During the 2013 government shutdown, members of the military were paid because Congress passed a separate “Pay Our Military Act.” This year, Republican Representative Jen Kiggans introduced similar legislation called the “Pay Our Troops Act,” but reports indicate it did not pass before the House adjourned last month.
The current executive order follows the administration’s announcement on Saturday that it would use unspent Department of Defense research and development funds to cover military paychecks. However, sources indicate it remains unclear where funds will come from to cover the military’s next paychecks at the end of October.
Broader Government Shutdown Impacts
The shutdown affecting the federal government of the United States began on October 1, with service members continuing their duties despite the funding lapse because their work is deemed essential for national security. Democrats argue that any funding package to reopen the government must also extend healthcare subsidies for about 24 million Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year, according to the report.
Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House but would need Democratic votes in the Senate to advance spending measures. The political impasse represents broader debates about government spending priorities that analysts suggest may continue to affect various sectors, similar to recent developments in manufacturing, automotive investment, and technology regulation.
This coverage is based on reporting from Reuters journalists Patricia Zengerle and Bo Erickson, with additional reporting by Costas Pitas and Bhargav Acharya. The original report has been edited for clarity and context.
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