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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING NEWS: Trump Broke the Law to Pay Troops During Shutdown
Link to tweet
In a stunning move that legal experts say violates the Antideficiency Act and the Appropriations Purpose Statute, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to pull $6.5 billion in leftover research and development funds to cover October 15 military paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown [1][2][3][4][5][6].
The moneyoriginally meant for weapons testing and technology developmentwas redirected without congressional approval, an act that experts warn tramples Congresss constitutional power of the purse. [16][17][18][19][14]
Trump formalized the maneuver by signing National Security Presidential Memorandum-8, giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sweeping authority to use any available funds for troop pay [14][15][1]. While 1.3 million active-duty service members were paid [7][10][1][2], hundreds of thousands of Guard, Reserve, and civilian employees still went without [2][7].
Democrats blasted the order as illegal. Rep. Rosa DeLauro said Trump was violating the law left and right, while Rep. Jim Himes called the move probably illegal. [16][18] Even the Cato Institutes Romina Boccia agreed the White House likely broke the law by reallocating funds without Congress [16].
Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, saying he showed strong leadership, even as the Pentagon confirmed the cash raid only covers one paycheckwith less than $3.5 billion left for October 31 [3][7][12].
The diversion will delay key defense programs, including F-35 upgrades and missile-testing projects now facing funding gaps of up to $500 million [6][19].
Bottom line: Trumps October 15 workaround ensured troops got paidfor nowbut by breaking fiscal law and usurping Congresss spending authority, he crossed a constitutional line no president has before [17][21][23][24].
The moneyoriginally meant for weapons testing and technology developmentwas redirected without congressional approval, an act that experts warn tramples Congresss constitutional power of the purse. [16][17][18][19][14]
Trump formalized the maneuver by signing National Security Presidential Memorandum-8, giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sweeping authority to use any available funds for troop pay [14][15][1]. While 1.3 million active-duty service members were paid [7][10][1][2], hundreds of thousands of Guard, Reserve, and civilian employees still went without [2][7].
Democrats blasted the order as illegal. Rep. Rosa DeLauro said Trump was violating the law left and right, while Rep. Jim Himes called the move probably illegal. [16][18] Even the Cato Institutes Romina Boccia agreed the White House likely broke the law by reallocating funds without Congress [16].
Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, saying he showed strong leadership, even as the Pentagon confirmed the cash raid only covers one paycheckwith less than $3.5 billion left for October 31 [3][7][12].
The diversion will delay key defense programs, including F-35 upgrades and missile-testing projects now facing funding gaps of up to $500 million [6][19].
Bottom line: Trumps October 15 workaround ensured troops got paidfor nowbut by breaking fiscal law and usurping Congresss spending authority, he crossed a constitutional line no president has before [17][21][23][24].
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BREAKING NEWS: Trump Broke the Law to Pay Troops During Shutdown (Original Post)
LetMyPeopleVote
Saturday
OP
dweller
(27,382 posts)1. huh
Whowouldaguessed ?
😐
✌🏻
ret5hd
(21,876 posts)2. i thought some anonymous billionaire...
said he would pay the troops.
Ocelot II
(127,873 posts)3. What else is new?
MagickMuffin
(17,961 posts)4. Speaker Moses gave him the power of the purse
Because he can do whatever he wants because Moses Mike hates the United States of America, along with the Constitution.
sop
(16,523 posts)5. Another impeachable offense, and no one to impeach him.
Americanme
(295 posts)6. He can break the law every day, he will get away with it.

yellow dahlia
(3,606 posts)7. This whole Article 1 thing keeps getting in the way.
GreenWave
(11,810 posts)8. 6.5 billion to cover one round of paychecks?