In a fiery message that further escalated Washington’s latest standoff, President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to pay U.S. troops despite the ongoing government shutdown — while blasting
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats for what he called “a deliberate effort to hurt the American people.”
The government has been shut down since October 1, following a budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare spending and Medicaid funding.
Trump’s statement — part directive, part declaration of war on political opponents — underscored his signature defiance.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I DISAGREE! If nothing is done because of Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.”
He continued:
“I have directed Secretary Hegseth to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID. We will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE.”
The Heart of the Standoff
The shutdown began when the Senate failed to approve a spending bill before the September 30 deadline. Democrats have refused to back a Republican proposal that lets key
Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax cuts expire — warning that doing so would increase insurance premiums and reduce Medicaid coverage.
Republicans, meanwhile, accuse Democrats of manufacturing the crisis to appeal to progressive voters ahead of the 2026 elections.
“This isn’t about healthcare,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, flanked by GOP leaders Steve Scalise and Tom Emmer during a press briefing. “This is about political power. Democrats are holding America’s government hostage for campaign leverage.”
Trump, true to his populist form, has positioned himself as the defender of ordinary Americans — and especially the military — during the shutdown.
“We’ve identified the funds,” he said. “Our troops will be paid. It’s Schumer who’s standing in the way of reopening the government.”
Schumer Pushes Back
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) fired back, saying the crisis was of Trump’s own making.
“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,” Schumer told Fox News Digital. “Families are opening their letters showing how high their premiums will climb if Republicans get their way.”
Privately, Democratic strategists see Trump’s shutdown strategy as risky but politically calculated. “He’s betting the public will see him as the only one standing up for soldiers,” one aide told reporters. “It’s emotional politics — and it works.”
The Human Cost
While Washington debates, the impact on federal workers is already being felt. Thousands of federal employees have been placed on unpaid leave, while others deemed “essential” continue working without pay. Unions are calling it “a man-made crisis with real victims.”
A Department of Defense source confirmed that Hegseth’s office is working to identify funds for troop payments — likely from emergency reserves. But economists warn that bypassing Congress to reallocate funds could invite legal challenges.
The Bigger Picture
Observers say the fight is about more than money. It’s about control — and narrative. Trump wants to frame Democrats as elitists willing to “hurt the troops” for politics. Democrats want voters to see Trump as reckless and authoritarian.
Each side is betting the other will blink first.
But one thing is clear: as long as the shutdown continues, both the economy and the federal workforce will pay the price.
And while Trump’s move to ensure troop pay may win him praise from military families, critics say it’s another symptom of his governing style — part bold leadership, part chaos-driven brinkmanship.
As one analyst put it:
“Trump’s not just fighting for policy — he’s fighting for perception. And right now, perception is everything.”
