Trump Directs Hegseth to Pay Troops During Shutdown Standoff, Slams Schumer and Democrats

President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his attacks on Democrats over the ongoing federal government shutdown, announcing that he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to ensure that U.S. military service members are paid next week despite the budget impasse.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats of deliberately prolonging the shutdown, which began on October 1 after Congress failed to agree on a spending bill to keep the government funded.

“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown,” Trump wrote. “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 said he had instructed Hegseth “to use all available funds to get our troops PAID on October 15th,” claiming that the administration had already identified funding sources to make that happen.

“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” Trump declared. “I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”

The president went on to call on Democrats to reopen the government immediately, saying cooperation on healthcare and other issues could follow once federal operations are restored.

“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 wrote.

Background: The Shutdown and Political Divide

The government shutdown began on October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach agreement on a spending bill.
Democrats have argued that proposed Republican budget cuts — particularly to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits — would cause millions of Americans to lose healthcare coverage and face higher insurance premiums.

Republicans, however, claim Democrats are using the shutdown as a political strategy to appeal to their progressive base and to distract from economic successes under Trump’s leadership.

Trump on Monday reiterated his position, blaming Democrats entirely for the standoff.

“Democrats have SHUT DOWN the United States government right in the midst of one of the most successful economies, including a record stock market, that our country has ever had,” he posted. “This has sadly affected so many programs, services, and other elements of society that Americans rely on — and it should not have happened.”

He added that he would be “happy to work with the Democrats on their failed healthcare policies or anything else,” but only “after they reopen the government.”

Schumer Responds: ‘Our Case Gets Stronger Every Day’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded to the mounting criticism, telling Punchbowl News that Democrats are confident their approach is working.

“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer said, referring to the Democrats’ shutdown strategy. “It’s because we’ve thought about this long in advance, and we knew that healthcare would be the focal point on Sept. 30, and we prepared for it. Their whole theory was — threaten us, bamboozle us and we would submit in a day or two.”

Schumer has argued that the shutdown highlights the stakes in the healthcare debate, saying Republican proposals would lead to higher premiums and fewer protections for families.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Schumer said:

“Every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this shutdown, the worse it gets for Americans — and the clearer it becomes who’s fighting for them. Families are opening their letters showing how high their premiums will climb if Republicans get their way. They’re seeing why this fight matters — it’s about protecting their healthcare, their bank accounts, and their futures.”

Political Undercurrents: Schumer Under Pressure

Republican leaders have accused Schumer of prolonging the shutdown to placate the progressive wing of the Democratic Party — particularly amid speculation about challenges to his leadership from figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is rumored to be considering a Senate primary bid, and Zohran Mamdani, who is reportedly leading in the New York City mayoral race.

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital that Schumer had “said the quiet part out loud,” claiming Democrats were “gleefully inflicting pain on the American people over their push to give illegal aliens free healthcare.”

Military Pay a Key Flashpoint

The White House’s latest move to direct the Defense Department to find “all available funds” to pay troops appears aimed at blunting political fallout from the shutdown, particularly among service members and their families.

The U.S. military employs roughly 1.3 million active-duty personnel, many of whom faced the prospect of missing their October 15 paychecks due to the budget stalemate.

While Trump’s directive may provide a short-term fix, it does not extend to the hundreds of thousands of civilian federal employees who remain either furloughed or working without pay.

Looking Ahead

As the shutdown enters its third week, neither side has shown signs of backing down.
Trump continues to demand that Democrats “reopen the government first,” while Schumer and his caucus insist that any deal must protect key healthcare provisions and social spending priorities.

Political analysts warn that the prolonged standoff could soon impact the broader economy, disrupt federal services, and erode public confidence in both parties.

For now, Trump’s decision ensures the troops will be paid — but it also underscores the deep divisions paralyzing Washington as the government shutdown drags on.