Overview
- The package draws $2.5 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill reconciliation law, $1.4 billion from Navy shipbuilding and procurement, and $1.4 billion from research and development accounts, according to an OMB official.
- Defense officials referred questions on the transfers to OMB as the administration prioritizes covering pay and housing allowances for service members due Friday.
- This is the second such maneuver in the shutdown after an earlier shift of roughly $8 billion from military research and development funded the Oct. 15 payroll.
- Trump previously announced a $130 million private gift later reported to be from Timothy Mellon, a sum analysts say would cover less than seven hours of active-duty payroll and roughly $100 per service member if spread evenly.
- Lawmakers and budget experts are scrutinizing the legality and sustainability of these workarounds, with Senate Armed Services leaders pressing adherence to congressional intent and officials warning of potential shortfalls by mid-November absent a funding deal.