President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that he declined an offer from an unidentified wealthy donor who volunteered to personally cover military salaries during the ongoing government shutdown, as his administration moved to redirect billions in Pentagon research funds to ensure troops receive their October 15 paychecks.
Speaking at the White House alongside Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump disclosed that “a very wealthy person” and “great gentleman” had contacted him with the proposal. “He said, ‘If there is any money necessary, shortfall for the paying of the troops, I will pay it,’” Trump explained, adding that he rejected the offer because “we’re not going to need it. We’re going to take care of our troops”.
The White House declined to identify the donor or specify the amount offered, leaving questions about whether the offer remains available as the shutdown extends into its third week.
Pentagon Redirects Research Funds
The administration identified approximately $8 billion in unobligated research and development funds from fiscal year 2025 to cover military paychecks, affecting roughly 1.3 million active-duty service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom Trump refers to as “Secretary of War,” was directed to oversee the unprecedented reallocation.
“The President has directed the Secretary of War to use available funds to pay service members on October 15th,” a Pentagon spokesperson stated.
The funds are being drawn from leftover research, development, testing and evaluation (RDTE) accounts that had not been spent in the previous fiscal year. Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, characterized the move as “more like an accounting maneuver — you’re just moving money from your savings account to your checking account to pay your bills”.
While technically violating spending regulations since Congress had previously designated the funding for other purposes, Harrison noted it is unlikely anyone would publicly challenge the decision given the necessity of paying military personnel. However, Speaker Mike Johnson warned Wednesday that Trump’s action represents only a “temporary fix,” cautioning that servicemembers will miss their October 31 paychecks if Democrats don’t reopen the government by then.
Treasury Prioritizes Military Over Other Payments
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Monday that his department is “prioritizing payments” to ensure military personnel receive their salaries, requiring delays to other federal payments including services for civilian employees and institutions like the Smithsonian museums. “We’re having to shuffle things around,” Bessent told Fox Business, warning the shutdown is “starting to affect the real economy”.
The Coast Guard has also secured funding to continue compensating its members, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announcing Sunday that her department identified an “innovative” solution, though she did not provide specific details. Administration officials indicated that tariff revenue will be utilized to support the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves over 6.5 million individuals nationwide.
Senate Deadlock Continues
The Senate on Tuesday rejected a Republican funding bill for the eighth consecutive time, with the vote failing 49-45 to reach the required 60-vote threshold. Democrats continue demanding extensions of Affordable Care Act subsidies before agreeing to reopen the government, while Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the impasse.
The shutdown has furloughed an estimated 900,000 federal workers and left about 700,000 more working without pay. Trump warned Tuesday he would announce permanent cuts to “Democrat programs” on Friday, escalating pressure tactics as the closure approaches becoming the second-longest in U.S. history.
At its core, the shutdown revolves around healthcare policy—particularly the expiration of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that millions of Americans depend on to purchase insurance through Obamacare exchanges. Open enrollment for the affected health program begins on November 1, and the Kaiser Family Foundation has projected that monthly costs could double if Congress does not renew the subsidy payments set to expire on December 31.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries remarked that with Republicans effectively shutting down the House for a fourth week, no substantive negotiations are taking place. “They’re nowhere to be found,” he said during an appearance on MSNBC.
Schumer has insisted that any funding legislation must include an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies to gain Democratic backing, while GOP leaders are advocating for a seven-week funding extension supplemented with additional resources for security across legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
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