President Donald Trump has directed the secretary of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget director to use available funds to ensure military pay disbursements.
Why Did the President Order FY26 Funds for Military Pay?
According to the National Security Presidential Memorandum-8 released Wednesday by the White House, the president, as commander in chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, mandated the use of funds appropriated for fiscal year 2026 to cover pay and allowances for active-duty and reserve military personnel during the ongoing lapse in annual appropriations.
The Defense Secretary will identify funding sources that bear a “reasonable logical relationship” to military compensation, in full compliance with applicable legal standards, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a).
What Is the Impact of Trump’s Directive on Military Readiness?
The directive comes as the funding impasse enters its fifteenth day, delaying passage of legislation to restore full government funding and putting October 15th paychecks—including those for military personnel—at risk. The executive action seeks to avert a potential crisis that poses a serious threat to military readiness and national defense capabilities.
