President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “use all available funds” to pay military service members to circumvent the ongoing government shutdown, blaming “radical left Democrats” for holding the "security of our nation hostage.”

“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social.

“That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS. I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”

The government shutdown is in its 11th day as of Saturday, and stems from disagreements among lawmakers on health care policy. Democrats have refused to support any funding measures that don’t include funding an extension to Affordable Care Act subsidies, whereas Republicans have stood firm against Democrats’ demands, and instead have pushed a temporary funding bill.

“The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”