As tensions rise over the ongoing government shutdown, Donald Trump has moved to ensure that military personnel won’t be left without pay.
The president has issued a directive allowing funds from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget — money already approved by Congress — to be used to cover military salaries despite the budget freeze.
Military Pay Secured Despite the “Democrat Shutdown”
The White House announced that Trump’s order directs the Secretary of War to make sure that active-duty service members receive their paychecks on October 15, even as the standoff in Congress continues.
According to the administration’s Rapid Response account on X (formerly Twitter), this step was taken to protect troops from the effects of what Trump’s team is calling the “Democrat Shutdown.”
Senator Joni Ernst, who chairs the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus and works closely with Trump’s budget office, praised the move.
She accused Democrats of refusing to reopen the government, even if it meant soldiers missed their pay.
“President Trump made sure our brave men and women in uniform did not fall victim to Schumer’s Shenanigans,” she said.
The Shutdown Fallout and Looming Federal Layoffs
Meanwhile, Russell Vought — the budget chief nicknamed Trump’s “hatchet man” — has warned that more than 10,000 federal workers could lose their jobs as the shutdown stretches into its second week.
Speaking on The Charlie Kirk Show, Vought suggested that the number could “end up being somewhere north of 10,000.”
However, the administration’s efforts to cut positions have already faced legal challenges.
A federal judge in San Francisco ordered the government to stop plans to eliminate 4,100 positions, calling the move unlawful.
Despite that, Vought has remained at the center of Trump’s cost-cutting strategy, even earning the Grim Reaper nickname in a White House-produced AI video.
Trump’s Message to the Troops
Earlier this month, Trump addressed sailors aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in Norfolk, Virginia, promising pay raises and reassuring them that he would make sure they received back pay once the government reopened.
“Do not worry about it,” he told the cheering crowd, while once again placing blame on Democrats for the shutdown.
In his usual fiery style, Trump said: “We have to take care of this little gnat that’s on our shoulder called the Democrats.
They want to give all our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country.”
The Battle Over Health and Immigration Policies
At the heart of the impasse lies a disagreement over healthcare funding and immigration policy.
Democrats have pushed to restore eligibility for programs covering certain legal immigrants — including DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers — that were cut under Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Republicans have backed a temporary bill to keep the government open until November 21 at current spending levels, but Democrats blocked it, insisting that the measure must also address healthcare funding.
Some GOP lawmakers argue that Democrats’ proposed emergency hospital funding could indirectly benefit undocumented immigrants, adding another layer of contention.
Internal Divisions Over Federal Cuts
On October 1, Trump revealed plans to meet with Vought to discuss which agencies he deemed “Democrat-run scams” and to decide which ones should face cuts — either temporarily or permanently.
Vought has since told House Republicans that some of these layoffs would likely become permanent, reinforcing Trump’s belief that such actions could increase political pressure on Democrats.
Trump has reportedly said that the shutdown presents “an opportunity to make irreversible changes,” suggesting that reducing the federal workforce could be one of those moves.
Yet, the messaging from within his administration has not been entirely unified.
Vice President JD Vance described the layoffs as a “necessary evil” but emphasized that the administration would prefer to avoid them if possible.
Democrats Push Back
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have condemned the threats of mass layoffs as political intimidation.
They’ve warned that firing thousands of federal employees during a shutdown would face immediate legal challenges.
Although three Senate Democrats have broken ranks to support a short-term funding deal, most remain firm in demanding extended healthcare subsidies before any resolution can move forward.
The House-passed funding bill needs five more Democratic votes to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
What Comes Next?
With neither side showing signs of backing down, the standoff continues to grip Washington.
Trump’s administration is doubling down on its message of fiscal discipline and “America First” priorities, while Democrats are standing firm on social funding and healthcare protections.
For now, the military’s paychecks are safe — but the broader fate of federal workers, healthcare funding, and government operations remains uncertain as the shutdown drags on.