The Trump administration is scrambling to find alternative funding methods to ensure that federal law enforcement officers continue to receive their pay as the US government shutdown enters its third week.
With Democrats and Republicans locked in a budget stalemate, officials are exploring ways to protect key federal programs — including essential services such as law enforcement and the Special Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The extended shutdown has already caused thousands of layoffs and raised fears of broader economic disruption.
In a direct intervention, Trump ordered Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to use “all available funds” to ensure military personnel receive their scheduled salaries on 15 October.
Members of the US military will be paid using funds that had been previously allocated to the Pentagon. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirmed to the BBC that the money would come from defence research and development funds that remain available for two years.
Trump Orders Military Pay Amid Budget Standoff
The decision comes as approximately 750,000 federal employees — roughly 40% of the workforce — have been furloughed or sent home without pay since the shutdown began. More than 4,000 workers across at least seven agencies have already lost their jobs.
The Trump administration has also been examining emergency financial measures to cover salaries for law enforcement personnel, who are considered “essential workers.”
This includes officers from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), US Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These employees are legally required to continue reporting for duty despite not receiving paychecks during a shutdown.
An OMB spokesperson confirmed: “We are exploring alternative ways to ensure those payments continue. Law enforcement officers play a critical role in national security and must be supported.”
However, it remains unclear how much money would be required to sustain full pay for federal law enforcement if the shutdown continues for several more weeks.
The Trump administration has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats point the finger back at Republicans. This week, dozens of airports reportedly refused a Homeland Security video message in which Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Democrats for the funding impasse and subsequent travel disruptions.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted for the eighth time to advance a short-term Republican funding bill, but the measure failed to secure enough support, with a 49–45 vote.
Vice President JD Vance warned of more “painful” cuts to federal agencies if the gridlock continues. “This is not sustainable,” Vance said in a press briefing. “The longer Congress refuses to act, the more damage will be done.
To cushion some of the blow to vulnerable communities, the Trump administration announced that tariff revenues will be temporarily used to fund the WIC program, which supports more than 6.5 million women, infants, and children across the country.
The program provides essential food and nutritional support to pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children under five. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the approach “an innovative interim solution” but admitted it is not a long-term fix.
The National WIC Association responded by warning that the funding measure “is not a permanent solution,” adding that a prolonged shutdown could leave millions at risk of losing access to food and healthcare resources.
While Trump has defended his administration’s actions as necessary to maintain essential services, critics argue that the crisis is self-inflicted and politically motivated.
Economists have also warned that the shutdown could have far-reaching economic consequences, including disruptions to federal services, delays in immigration processes, and a potential decline in consumer confidence.
Trump has framed the standoff as a fight to protect fiscal responsibility and national security priorities, accusing Democrats of “playing politics with the livelihoods of hardworking Americans.”
Democrats in Congress are reportedly preparing legislation to protect essential programs like WIC and law enforcement funding from future shutdowns. Virginia Democrat Robert Scott told The Guardian that such programs “should be immune to the vagaries of the annual budget process.”
Democratic leaders argue that Trump’s funding maneuvers are unsustainable and fail to address the root causes of the shutdown.
As the Trump administration navigates the third week of the shutdown, the stakes continue to rise. While emergency funding may temporarily cover military and law enforcement salaries, the broader economic and political fallout is becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
With neither party backing down, Trump faces mounting pressure to strike a deal with Congress. How he handles this standoff will shape not only the future of federal services but also his political standing heading into a heated election season.
Source- BBC