National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-8

Key Points

• President Trump issued an order to ensure military members get paid while the government is shut down. The shutdown has lasted 15 days, and Congress has not yet passed a law to provide the money needed for military salaries.
• The order tells the Department of War to find money already in its budget from the 2026 fiscal year to cover paychecks. This applies to all active duty troops and members of the Reserves who have been working during this period.
• This move is meant to protect national security by making sure service members can focus on their jobs without worrying about missing a paycheck. The President stated that failing to pay the troops would be a threat to the nation's safety.
• After the shutdown ends and Congress passes a budget, the department will try to put the money back into the original accounts it was taken from. This ensures that other military projects and operations can eventually continue as originally planned.