The Trump administration used $6.5 billion in unused Pentagon research and development funds to pay active-duty military personnel this week amid the ongoing government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday the move is only a temporary measure and warned that service members could miss their October 31 paychecks if Congress fails to pass a funding bill.
- The Pentagon redirected $6.5 billion from roughly $10 billion in unused military R&D funds to cover pay for 1.3 million active-duty troops and thousands of reservists and National Guard members.
- The White House has not yet detailed the legal justification for reallocating the funds or whether additional sources are available for future pay periods.
- By law, up to $8 billion can be transferred between military accounts per fiscal year, though Congress has not approved such a move.
- Many lawmakers from both parties have voiced support for standalone troop pay legislation, but Republican leaders insist the solution lies in Democrats passing the House-approved stopgap spending bill.
- Some senators, including Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), cautioned that the move to pay troops may reduce pressure on Congress to fully reopen the government.
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