Keeping the Troops Paid During the Shutdown

The government shutdown is causing a lot of trouble, but the White House is trying to make sure troops still get paid. They found money in different places to cover the paychecks. One big chunk came from a fund meant for research and development. They also took some from a fund for buying supplies and another from a law passed in July. The White House says they have enough money to pay the troops for this pay period. They have about $5. 3 billion ready to go. A senior official said, "We've always said we are going to take care of our troops. " But some people are worried there might not be enough money if the shutdown lasts longer. There's also a big donation from a billionaire to help pay the troops. The Defense Department got $130 million from Timothy Mellon. This money is supposed to help cover military salaries. Troops were supposed to be paid on Friday, but as of Thursday, most haven't seen their paychecks yet. Navy Federal Credit Union, which many troops use, said they haven't received all the military pay funds. They are still waiting for the rest of the money. Some senators tried to pass a bill to make sure troops get paid during the shutdown, but it was blocked. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that if the shutdown continues, troops might miss their next paycheck on November 15.