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The federal shutdown reached its 15th day on Wednesday, October 15, after Republicans failed for the eighth time to secure enough Democratic votes to end the budget impasse. 

Yet, even as large portions of the U.S. government remain paralyzed, President Donald Trump has taken an unprecedented step. He’s shifting funds to keep vital and favored agencies and programs operating.

While millions of federal workers face uncertainty, Trump has redirected funds from dormant programs to maintain operations in areas he supports, such as military payrolls, immigration enforcement, and certain law enforcement functions.

“We got the people that we want paid, paid,” Trump said Wednesday in the Oval Office. “We’re getting rid of programs that we didn’t like but that were negotiated in. We’re terminating those programs, and they’re going to be terminated permanently.”

For official updates on the ongoing federal shutdown and its impacts, visit USA.gov.

Redirecting Federal Funds 

According to the White House Office of Management and Budget, Trump’s administration is “battening down the hatches” to ride out the shutdown while continuing mass layoffs — with over 4,000 government workers already dismissed and more expected.

Funding leftover from government research has reportedly been redirected to make payroll for active-duty troops, with money from Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — the tax and immigration package he signed in July — being used to compensate Coast Guard members.

FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed that Trump “found a way” to pay the bureau’s 1811 agents during the shutdown, though translators, analysts, and support staff remain unpaid.

“Congress has to say what money can be used for out of the general treasury,” said Shalanda Young, the White House budget chief under President Biden, in an interview with The Washington Post. “They just can’t take money out of the treasury for whatever they want to do.”

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Military and Economic Priorities Continue

Despite the shutdown, Trump has ensured military deployments and immigration raids continue without interruption. Over the weekend, the Pentagon announced plans to repurpose $8 billion in research and development funding to cover troop pay — enough for slightly more than one pay period.

Trump added that “a very wealthy person” offered to make up any shortfall in military pay, though he did not disclose the individual’s identity.

Revenue from tariffs, described by Trump as the “crown jewel” of his economic plan, is also being rerouted to fund WIC, the federal nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

“We’re closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we wanted to close up or that we never wanted to happen,” Trump said. “We’re not closing up Republican programs because we think they work.”

However, these decisions may face legal challenges, as past presidents have rarely exercised such direct budgetary discretion during funding lapses.

Trump is opting some of the government out of the shutdown

Is the US government still closed? Here's what we know on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Federal Shutdown Fallout: Delays, Closures, and Public Impact

While select agencies continue to operate, the broader effects of the shutdown are being felt nationwide.

• Air travel has been hit by significant flight delays due to reduced staffing at the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Taxpayer "Help" lines at the IRS remain closed.
• Environmental and infrastructure projects are on hold as the EPA and Department of Transportation struggle with permit backlogs.
• Many national parks are shuttered, blocking public access to trails and monuments.

Despite Republican control of Congress, the GOP lacks the votes in the Senate to overcome Democratic filibusters on funding bills. Democrats insist that any compromise to reopen the government must preserve health insurance subsidies and social programs cut in the current budget proposal.

A Polarizing Approach to a Prolonged Standoff

Trump’s selective continuation of certain government programs marks a stark departure from how previous presidents handled shutdowns. Analysts note that partisan strategy appears to be influencing which programs are shielded from funding freezes.

“Trump is exercising significantly more control than most past presidents have in previous funding lapses,” one political analyst said. “This is less about policy efficiency and more about political messaging.”

As the shutdown drags into its third week, the nation waits for a breakthrough — but for now, federal workers, agencies, and citizens remain caught in the crossfire of Washington’s political gridlock.

For more information on the status of the shutdown and government services affected, visit USA.gov/shutdown.