President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum significantly expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.

Trump’s memorandum gives Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, wide authority to repurpose funds, even though no such permission has been granted by Congress.

It states that Hegseth, in coordination with the White House budget office, should use “any funds appropriated by the Congress that remain available for expenditure in fiscal year 2026 to accomplish the scheduled disbursement of military pay.” It says such funds should have “a reasonable, logical relationship to the pay and allowances of military personn

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