The Trump administration has moved money around to pay troops, but the financial juggling act can’t go on much longer, Bessent suggested.
Trump ‘friend’ donates $130 million to pay military during shutdown
The Pentagon said it has accepted an anonymous $130 million donation from an ally of President Trump that it plans to use to pay military members.
Active duty troops will start going without pay by Nov. 15 if lawmakers can’t come to an agreement to end the government shutdown, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
The shutdown has furloughed roughly 750,000 federal workers and left many others working without pay, but the Trump administration has moved Pentagon money around to pay troops. It also has taken the unusual step of accepting a $130 million check from a private donor to help cover the paychecks of roughly 1.3 million active service members.
The financial juggling act can’t go on much longer, though, Bessent suggested. Another pay date is approaching on Oct. 31.
“I think we’ll be able to pay them beginning in November. But by November 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren’t going to be able to get paid,” Bessent said Oct. 26 on CBS News.
The shutdown has now lasted for nearly four weeks. Little progress is likely in the coming days with President Donald Trump out of the country for much of the week on a trip to Asia.
The government closure is now the second longest in U.S. history, behind only the 35-day shutdown during Trump’s first term.
