US military will use R&D money to pay troops if shutdown persists

"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," President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. Trump did not identify funding sources or the total amount that would be used for troop salaries, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment. Trump made the announcement on the 11th day of a government shutdown that was sparked by a funding impasse with minority congressional Democrats.