White House says Coast Guard will also be paid this week despite shutdown
The White House directed the Pentagon to use “all available funds,” including two‑year research and development accounts, to ensure active‑duty service members are paid on the Oct. 15 payday, with President Trump pledging they would receive “every last penny.” Although initial guidance left the Coast Guard’s status unclear, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Coast Guard personnel will also receive paychecks this week, while most other federal workers will not be paid until the shutdown ends.
Politics
Military
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump pledged service members would receive “every last penny” despite the government shutdown and reiterated his backing for a 3.8% across‑the‑board pay raise for servicemembers.
- The White House directed the Pentagon to “use all available funds” to ensure troops are paid on the Oct. 15 payday; the directive was posted on Truth Social as “use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
- White House OMB officials said the Pentagon would tap research-and-development funds — which are two‑year funds — to cover troop pay during the lapse in appropriations.
- A CBO letter was cited as supporting a legal path to cover pay through mandatory funding in the 2025 reconciliation act.
- Without action, active‑duty troops faced missing their first full paychecks on Oct. 15, prompting the urgent directive.
- It was initially unclear whether the Coast Guard (which is under DHS in peacetime) was covered by the Pentagon directive, but DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Coast Guard personnel will also receive paychecks this week.
- Other federal workers will not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends; OMB has begun federal worker layoffs, and some non‑essential civilian Defense Department employees were furloughed while family services (child care, commissaries) were scaled back at several installations.
📰 Sources (6)
Senate plans 8th vote to reopen government as shutdown drags on
New information:
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Coast Guard personnel will also receive paychecks this week.
- Other federal workers will not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends.
Trump directs Pentagon to use 'available funds' to pay military during shutdown
New information:
- White House official told NPR the Defense Department will use research and development funds and noted those are two‑year funds.
- Trump’s directive was posted on Truth Social with the phrasing “use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
- Pete Hegseth amplified the order on X, stating, “President Trump delivers for the troops.”
- Article reiterates the immediate risk date: active‑duty troops’ first full missed paychecks would have been Oct. 15 without action.
- Trump previously pledged at a Norfolk Navy event: “We will get our service members every last penny… Don’t worry about it.”
Trump directs Pentagon to use ‘all available funds’ to pay troops despite shutdown
New information:
- White House OMB says Pentagon research and development funds will be used to cover troop pay during the shutdown.
- The directive targets the Oct. 15 payday to ensure service members are paid despite the lapse in appropriations.
- It remains unclear whether the Coast Guard (under DHS in peacetime) is covered by the directive.
- Article notes OMB began federal worker layoffs on Friday as the shutdown continues.
Trump says U.S. troops will be paid despite government shutdown
New information:
- Moves from a general promise to a concrete directive: DoD ordered to use "all available funds" to pay troops on Oct. 15.
- CBO letter is referenced to substantiate a legal path via mandatory funding from the 2025 reconciliation act.
Trump tells troops 'every last penny' coming despite ongoing government shutdown affecting military pay
New information:
- President Donald Trump explicitly pledged service members would receive 'every last penny' of pay despite the government shutdown.
- Trump reiterated backing for a 3.8% across‑the‑board pay raise for servicemembers and tied it to his administration.
- The article details operational impacts: non‑essential civilian War Department employees furloughed and scaled‑back family services (child care, commissaries) at several installations; notes the shutdown had entered its fifth full day.