Trump Orders Pentagon to Use All Funds to Pay Troops Amid Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump announced he has directed the Pentagon to use all available funds so that active-duty service members receive their October 15 paychecks despite a government shutdown that began on October 1 and has lasted more than 10 days.

“A partial government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, leading to closures such as the U”

Lynchburg News and Advance

Several outlets specify that roughly 1.3 million troops are affected by the shutdown.

Lynchburg News and Advance

Some sources note that this move is a short-term fix targeted only at military pay.

Multiple Western mainstream sources detail the order and its timing.

West Asian and Asian outlets also emphasize Trump's public blame of Democrats for the impasse.

They highlight his assertion of commander-in-chief authority in making the directive.

Where the money comes from is described differently across outlets.

Several Western mainstream and West Asian sources say the White House and OMB identified unobligated research and development funds that remain available for two years.

BBC

Multiple reports peg the figure at roughly $8 billion.

Others suggest it could tap allocations associated with recent tax or reconciliation legislation.

A few sources do not specify any dollar amount at all, but uniformly agree the directive targets existing Defense funds to bridge the pay gap for the Oct. 15 deadline.

Most outlets emphasize that the directive applies only to troops, not civilian federal employees.

“The article reports on the impact of a government shutdown on national parks and historic sites”

The Daily Progress

Several sources highlight that layoffs or furloughs are increasing during the shutdown.

Multiple Western mainstream and local Western sources note that federal workers usually receive back pay after shutdowns.

However, Trump has recently suggested the possibility of not compensating them for lost wages.

Western alternative and other outlets report that the administration has started or planned mass layoffs.

These actions have led to legal challenges and worsened the shutdown’s effects beyond military pay.

Politically, outlets across regions report that Trump blames Democrats—often naming Senate leaders—for the standoff.

Democrats demand extensions or expansions of Affordable Care Act subsidies in any deal.

Omaha World-Herald

Western mainstream reporting details repeated failed Senate votes and the 60‑vote threshold, as well as competing House and Senate proposals.

Some local Western sources uniquely mention a federal judge temporarily blocking National Guard deployments amid the shutdown’s fallout.

Asian sources echo the subsidy dispute and reproduce Trump’s sharper rhetoric about Democrats “holding the military hostage.”

Looking ahead, several outlets warn the decision may extend the shutdown by removing a key pressure point, even as it ensures military pay on Oct. 15.

“The article reports on the impact of a government shutdown on national parks and historic sites”

Sioux City Journal

Some highlight unresolved issues: Coast Guard pay is not covered, military families’ hardship has spiked, and details of the exact accounts being tapped remain unclear in certain reports.

Sioux City Journal

Coverage also varies in scope—some pieces stick narrowly to troop pay mechanics, while others broaden to the shutdown’s legal battles and even unrelated world events, underscoring diverging editorial priorities across regions and outlet types.