Donald Trump announced on Saturday that military service members will receive their paychecks despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. The president said he used his authority as commander-in-chief to direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to release the necessary funds by October 15. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote that he had “found the funds” to pay U.S. troops. He added that he would not allow Democrats to “hold the military and the nation’s security hostage” during the shutdown. His message came as political tensions in Washington continue to rise over the deadlock that has closed parts of the federal government. The government shutdown began on October 1, marking the first closure since the 35-day shutdown that occurred in late 2018 during Trump’s previous term. That earlier shutdown remains the longest in U.S. history. This time, the closure comes as Democrats struggle to regain influence after losing control of both chambers of Congress in the most recent elections. Without Trump’s intervention, over 1.3 million military personnel across the country were at risk of missing their first paychecks following the shutdown. They had only been paid for work completed through September 30. In addition, around 750,000 civilian federal workers have been placed on unpaid leave, with most government offices either closed or operating with limited staff. Under current law, federal employees are guaranteed back pay once a shutdown ends. After the 2018 shutdown, Congress passed legislation to ensure that all furloughed and working federal employees are compensated once the government reopens. However, military pay during a shutdown is not automatic without specific executive or congressional action. Negotiations in the Senate remain stalled. Lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending bill to reopen the government, with both parties blaming each other for the impasse. Trump has accused Democrats of using the shutdown as political leverage. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, told reporters that the longer the shutdown lasts, the more pressure builds on Republicans to compromise. On Friday, the White House confirmed that layoffs of federal employees had begun. Hundreds of workers across multiple departments lost their jobs, including more than 300 at the Department of Commerce, 466 at the Department of Education, and nearly 200 at the Department of Energy. The administration said these layoffs were part of cost-saving measures during the funding lapse. Labor unions quickly condemned the move. Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the decision would have “devastating effects” on vital public services. He also announced plans to challenge the layoffs in court. The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labor federation, echoed the criticism and vowed legal action against what it called an “illegal reduction-in-force.” Russell Vought, the White House budget director, posted online that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official reduction-in-force process. His statement prompted widespread criticism from union leaders, who accused the administration of exploiting the shutdown to target federal workers unfairly. Despite the controversy, Trump’s announcement about paying the military has drawn support from his political base and from Defense Secretary Hegseth, who reposted the president’s message with the words, “President Trump delivers for the troops.” The situation remains tense as the shutdown enters its second week, with no clear sign of a resolution. While the president’s order aims to protect military families from financial strain, millions of other federal workers remain without pay or job security. Political observers note that Trump’s decision could bolster his image as a defender of the armed forces, a theme that has long resonated with his supporters. However, critics argue that his confrontational stance toward Congress risks deepening the crisis. As the October 15 pay date approaches, the administration faces mounting pressure to find a broader solution to end the shutdown. Whether Trump’s unilateral action will be enough to ease tensions or trigger new political and legal challenges remains to be seen.