Trump directs Hegseth to ‘use all available funds’ to pay troops during shutdown

President Trump said on Saturday that he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to pay the troops during the government shutdown.

"Chuck Schumer recently said, 'Every day gets better' during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of 'Leader' Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th," he wrote on Truth Social.

"That is why 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. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS," he added.

Trump called on Democrats to vote for the House-passed bill to continue government funding through late November.

"I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown," he wrote. "The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy."