Trump Orders Pentagon to Pay Military During Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Wednesday that directs the Pentagon to continue paying military troops during the government shutdown using available fiscal year 2026 funds.

The Details: Federal employees, including military members, do not receive pay during government shutdowns, and instead receive backpay when the shutdown ends. However, Reuters (Center bias) noted that historically, Congress has passed bills during past government shutdowns to ensure troops were paid. Reuters included Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) comment, “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.” Reuters also wrote that “Democrats blamed the Republicans for refusing to even discuss any compromise.”

Is It Legal? Fox News (Right) reported that some critics argue Trump’s order is disallowed by the Antideficiency Act, which prevents the government from spending money not appropriated by Congress. However, Fox also noted that “White House officials argue the law permits spending that has a ‘reasonable, logical relationship’ to the purpose of the original funds.”

Who Controls the Federal Purse? CNN (Lean Left) published the headline, “Trump’s shutdown moves show he believes he controls the federal purse.” CNN did not only question Trump’s memorandum to move funds around in order to pay the military, but also highlighted Trump's other recent moves, such as laying off approximately 3,500 federal workers during the shutdown and claiming he will remove funding from New York if Zohran Mamdani becomes the mayor. CNN included Trump’s quote, “The funding for New York and for every place comes through the White House. And I’m very generous … But I wouldn’t be generous to a communist.” CNN wrote, “The important part of that quote is that Trump sees the money as his to be generous with.”

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