President Trump stepped in on Saturday to assure service members that they will receive their paychecks on time, announcing that the Department of War has secured sufficient funds to cover the October 15 military payday.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said the move would ensure that the “Schumer Shutdown” would not create financial hardship for military families, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to protecting those who serve.
President Trump delivers for the troops. pic.twitter.com/iZOvn2GULG
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 11, 2025
The commander-in-chief wrote:
Chuck Schumer recently said, “Every day gets better” during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of “Leader” Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th. That is why 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. I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown. The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Needless to say, the Democrat-friendly media (including a few ‘military’ publications) were all anticipating the troops going without pay…in a way that was a negative for Republicans and the Trump admin:
Heather Campbell lost her job working for a food bank over the summer because of federal funding cuts. Her husband serves as an officer in the Air Force, but now he’s facing the prospect of missing his next paycheck because of the government shutdown.
If lawmakers in Washington don’t step in, Campbell’s husband won’t get paid on Wednesday. Because the couple lacks the savings to cover all their expenses, they expect to survive on credit cards to pay the mortgage and feed their three children, racking up debt as the political stalemate drags on.
“You’re asking us to put our lives on the line or the people we love to put their lives on the line,” said Campbell, 39, who lives outside Montgomery, Alabama, near Maxwell Air Force Base. “And you’re not even going to give us our paycheck. What? There is a lot of broken trust there.”
As it turned out, direct government intervention wasn’t necessary.
Military commissaries had already begun preparing to support more than a million service members and their families who were at risk of missing a paycheck, ensuring that essential needs would be met regardless of the funding uncertainty.
Attention Military Members and Families affected by the shutdown — the Exchange Credit Program is offering 0% interest and no payments on all commissary purchases for this month. More details below? https://t.co/yCBJBgviN0
— Kristina Wong ?? (@kristina_wong) October 11, 2025
There appears to be enough funding available within existing procurement and research and development accounts to continue paying service members until the Schumer Shutdown is resolved. However, that may not be necessary.
The House has introduced the Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 1932), which could come to a vote whenever Speaker Mike Johnson decides to bring it forward. Its prospects in the Senate remain unclear, as passing the measure would limit Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s leverage in negotiations with President Trump.
Still, Trump’s proactive move to ensure military pay is likely to influence moderate Senate Democrats who may be reluctant to oppose funding for service members.
