"WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has directed the Defense Department to use "all available funds" to ensure U.S. troops are paid Wednesday despite the government shutdown, a short-term fix that will not apply to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed. Trump said in a social media post that he was acting because "our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.""
"The Republican president's directive removes one of the pressure points that could have forced Congress into action, likely ensuring that the shutdown - now in its 11th day and counting - extends into a third week and possibly beyond. But no similar action seems forthcoming for federal employees also working without pay while thousands are now being laid off during the lapse in government operations. The White House budget office started the layoffs on Friday."
President Trump directed the Defense Department to use "all available funds" to ensure U.S. troops receive pay on October 15 during the government shutdown, while furloughed federal workers will not receive equivalent relief. The action targets about 1.3 million active-duty service members who faced missing paychecks after the Oct. 1 lapse. The directive names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to implement the payment and states that funds have been identified, though no funding source was specified. The White House budget office began layoffs for federal employees, and the move reduces a political pressure point that could have compelled congressional action. The Congressional Budget Office said reallocating prior defense spending could be possible.
Read at ABC7 Chicago
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