News: President Donald Trump plans to pay U.S. Coast Guard personnel, along with the other members of the armed forces, during the government shutdown — even though the maritime security branch doesn’t fall under the Pentagon’s purview.
The Trump administration is looking to use funds from the One Big Beautiful Act, enacted earlier this year, to cover active-duty Coast Guard pay, according to two people familiar with the plan. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The White House deferred to the Office of Management and Budget, which also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The news comes days after Trump announced on Truth Social that he was directing the Defense Department to pay military personnel, though his post didn’t mention the Coast Guard or DHS specifically.
A DOD official confirmed military leaders are poised to direct some $8 billion in FY2025 research and development funding, that can be used over two years, to pay active duty troops on Wednesday. A person familiar with the matter said the transfer is not expected to impact any critical programs.
Pentagon leaders opted to draw from those funds rather than the $150 billion Congress gave the department under the OBBB. The plan signals top military officials are likely more confident in the legality of targeting unobligated prior-year dollars than using OBBB money for military pay.
Congress would’ve needed to pass a standalone bill to cover troops’ salaries by Monday in order to ensure 1.3 million active-duty troops, National Guard members, reservists and Coast Guard personnel did not miss a paycheck.
