President Donald Trump speaks to sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has found $5.3 billion to pay U.S. troops expecting to receive paychecks Friday during the ongoing government shutdown, an official from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget confirmed Thursday.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the money included $2.5 billion redirected from the administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed this summer, $1.4 billion from a military procurement account and another $1.4 billion from research and development.
The Defense Department did not say how it would move funds and referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget.
“President [Donald] Trump is continuing to make good on his promise to take care of the troops despite the fact Democrats have shut down the government and are fine with our bravest men and women getting no pay,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
This marks the second time since the shutdown began that the administration has moved money to ensure service members receive their paychecks.
“We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters Tuesday at the Capitol.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration used $8 billion from military research and development accounts to cover payroll. The administration told Congress $6.5 billion was used. The Pentagon last week accepted an anonymous $130 million donation. Trump declined to name the person, whom he called “a friend of mine,” saying the man didn’t want the recognition.
Money could run out by Nov. 15 absent an agreement to fund the government, CBS News reported Sunday, quoting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Senate last week failed to proceed with legislation to keep paychecks flowing to troops and pay Defense Department civilians working without compensation as the government shutdown hits the 30-day mark.
In past shutdowns, lawmakers have worked on a bipartisan basis to ensure service members were spared from the financial effects of a lapse in federal funding. Congress passed a bill shortly before the start of a shutdown in 2013 to authorize paychecks for troops and some Defense Department workers and contractors.