President Trump released a Memo Wednesday ordering pay for U.S. troops amid the ongoing government shutdown. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
More than one million service members were expected to miss paychecks starting this week if Congress didn’t act. Trump’s move marks a break from past administrations, which often waited for bipartisan deals instead of intervening directly.
Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital that "Trump's mid-month action was welcome news to the military community. But now that same community is anxious about what happens at the end of the month, where mortgages and rents and car payments all become due."
"Democrats were wrong to try to use troop pay as leverage to accomplish their political goals. And it would be wrong, it would be just as wrong, for a Republican to hope that that lack of pay would be a catalyst to get Democrats to acquiesce," LaLota said. "[Trump is] protecting the troops when Congress won’t."
WHITE HOUSE MAY 'RUN OUT' OF FUNDS TO PAY MILITARY IF SHUTDOWN CONTINUES, JOHNSON WARNS
The government shutdown is expected to cost taxpayers $400 million a day to pay furloughed federal employees, according to Congressional Budget Office data. (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fox News has reached out to the White House, OMB and Department of War for further comment. None have responded.
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The directive follows Trump’s Oct. 11 order to keep troop payments flowing during the shutdown. The White House’s latest move Wednesday with Congress still in gridlock could shape government shutdowns for generations to come.
Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-instructs-pentagon-ensure-troops-paid-government-shutdown