Chuck Schumer (left), Donald Trump (File – agencies)

President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to use all available funds to ensure that US troops receive their paychecks on October 15, despite the ongoing government shutdown, triggered by a standoff between Republicans and Democrats. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump criticised Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats for the impasse, accusing them of holding the military and national security “hostage.”Trump said, “Every day gets better” – a remark by Schumer – is “wrong,” warning that without action from the Democrats, troops could miss their pay, “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,” Trump wrote.

He added, “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.”Trump reiterated his stance against the government shutdown and urged the Democrats to reopen the government before working on issues such as healthcare, which he said they want to “destroy”. “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,” he said.Schumer’s comment- “each day our case to fix healthcare and end the shutdown gets better and better and stronger and stronger”- was made on Thurdsay on the Senate floor, where he attempted to strike a confident tone regarding Democrats’ position in the ongoing negotiations over federal funding.However, the remark triggered sharp reactions across the Republican spectrum. Senate majority leader John Thune said, “Democrats couldn’t care less whether military families miss a paycheck tomorrow”. He further criticised Democrats saying “it isn’t a political game”.The government shutdown, triggered by the failure of Congress to agree on funding, has raised concerns about its impact on federal employees and military personnel, with October 15 marking the next scheduled payday for troops.This move by Trump highlights ongoing political tensions in Washington as the shutdown continues. The Pentagon has yet to publicly confirm details regarding the funding directive.