During an ongoing lapse in annual appropriations, President Donald J. Trump issued a memorandum on October 15, 2025, directing the Secretary of War and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to use available Department of War funds to ensure military personnel continue to receive pay and allowances.
The memorandum comes as the appropriations lapse reaches its fifteenth day, with congressional negotiations at an impasse. President Trump stated, "The current appropriations lapse, which includes a lapse in the annual appropriations that the Congress provides for the pay and allowances of military personnel, is now in its fifteenth day. Further, congressional leaders have indicated that political negotiations have stalemated and that the passage of the necessary bipartisan legislation to end the lapse is unlikely to occur before our active duty military personnel are scheduled to receive their next paychecks on October 15th. This potential outcome presents a serious and unacceptable threat to military readiness and the ability of our Armed Forces to protect and defend our Nation."
As Commander in Chief, Trump directed, "I direct the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use for the purpose of pay and allowances any funds appropriated by the Congress that remain available for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2026 to accomplish the scheduled disbursement of military pay and allowances for active duty military personnel, as well as for Reserve component military personnel who have performed active service during the relevant pay period. Funds used for military pay and allowances during the current lapse should be those that the Secretary of War determines are provided for purposes that have a reasonable, logical relationship to the pay and allowances of military personnel, consistent with applicable law, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a)."
He further instructed that after appropriations are restored, "every effort should be made, as authorized by law, to adjust applicable funding accounts within the Department of War to ensure the continuation of Department of War operations and activities consistent with planned expenditures prior to the lapse."
The directive aims to prevent disruption in military pay during a period when Congress has not passed funding legislation.
