[Li Zhi, special correspondent of the Global Times in the United States] CBS said on the 12th that with the "shutdown" of the U.S. federal government entering the second week, President Trump said on the 11th that he had ordered Defense Secretary Hegseth to "use all available funds to pay the military pay on time".
Trump tweeted on social media "Real Social" that the government had "determined funds" to pay military wages during the "stop", but did not disclose specific details and sources of funding. Trump continued to blame the government for the "stop" on the Democrats, and he also said, "I will not allow Democrats to use dangerous government shutdowns to hijack the security of the military and the country."
According to the U.S. Washington Post, Trump has instructed Hegel to pay soldiers on the 15th, and Pentagon officials have said that if the shutdown lasts until the 15th, it will use about $8 billion of research and development funds not allocated in the previous fiscal year.
As the Senate failed to pass the new provisional allocation bill before the federal government’s funds were exhausted, the U.S. government again “stopped” seven years later this month, with about 600,000 employees forced on unpaid leave, and employees who provided “necessary services” were forced to work unpaid. There are about 1.3 million U.S. soldiers in service and concerns about whether the military could be dispatched on time on the 15th. The U.S. Public Broadcasting Company said Trump’s directive removed one of the pressures that could have forced Congress to act, meaning the “stop” would likely be extended to the third week, or even longer.
But for unpaid federal government employees, there is currently no similar solution. Thousands of federal employees have been dismissed during government interruptions, and White House departments have launched dismissal procedures on 10th. The departments involved arely the Treasury, the Ministry of Health and Public Services, and the Ministry of Education. The New York Times said that critical medical services such as diabetes monitoring and remote care in some Indian reserves have been narrowed or cancelled due to the "stop".
Despite the exhaustion of federal funds, U.S. military operations in Latin America have not stopped. According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon announced on the 10th the establishment of a new joint anti-drug task force, which is responsible for operations in Latin America. Southern Command, which is in charge of U.S. operations in Latin America, said the new task force will be led by the Second Marine Expeditionary Unit.