Navy 250th Anniversary Ceremony: Trump pledges full back pay and raise to troops amid government shutdown

President Donald Trump told U.S. service members that they will receive “every last penny” of their pay and an “across-the-board” raise once the ongoing government shutdown ends.

At a ceremony marking the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, Trump said, “I want you to know that despite the current Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our servicemembers every last penny. Don’t worry about it, it’s all coming,” adding that he supports a 3.8% pay increase for every service member. Speaking Sept. 30 at Quantico before the nation’s top generals, he said the raise was “something you weren’t getting from the past administration.”

At 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the federal government shut down, freezing pay for U.S. service members and hundreds of thousands of other federal workers. Active-duty troops are still reporting for duty, but their pay is on hold until Congress restores funding. Meanwhile, nonessential civilian employees at the War Department—including many who keep bases running and handle logistics—have been furloughed.

Military support programs — such as child care centers, on-base commissaries, and other family services — have been scaled back at several installations, leaving families with unexpected costs. As the shutdown enters its fifth full day, many military families face financial uncertainty even as the president said back pay and additional raises would follow once Congress passes a new spending bill.

The Trump administration has blamed Democrats for the shutdown, which it says is expected to trigger sweeping layoffs across the federal workforce. Before departing for Norfolk, Trump accused Democrats in a Truth Social post Friday evening of enabling the shutdown and attempting “to destroy this wonderful celebration of the U.S. Navy’s Birthday.”