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By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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FBI agents will continue to receive paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Wednesday, crediting President Donald Trump with securing alternative funds to support law enforcement and military personnel. The announcement was made during an Oval Office event, where Patel thanked Trump for “finding a way” to pay agents despite the lapse in congressional funding.
The administration has not disclosed the specific source of the funds, though similar moves this week have drawn from unspent allocations to cover military payroll.
Why It Matters
The decision to pay FBI agents and service members during a shutdown marks a significant departure from past precedent, where federal workers typically go unpaid until Congress passes a funding bill. By selectively funding certain agencies, the Trump administration is reshaping the shutdown’s impact and raising legal questions about executive authority over appropriations.
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With most federal employees furloughed or working without pay, the administration’s actions could reduce pressure on lawmakers to resolve the impasse, potentially prolonging the shutdown and deepening partisan divides over budget priorities.
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What To Know
Under Justice Department contingency plans, FBI agents were not furloughed when funding lapsed on October 1. Patel confirmed on Wednesday that they will also continue to receive pay, despite the broader freeze on federal salaries.
Earlier this week, Trump directed the Pentagon to use $8 billion in unobligated funds from the previous fiscal year to issue mid-month paychecks to service members. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard would also be paid using funds from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed earlier this year.
The administration’s unilateral moves to fund select agencies have prompted scrutiny from legal experts and lawmakers. Traditionally, Congress must authorize spending, and previous shutdowns have relied on stand-alone bills to ensure the payment of military personnel. This time, the executive branch is “triaging” federal spending without legislative approval.
The shutdown, now in its third week, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. While essential employees remain on duty, most are not receiving compensation. House Republicans have attempted to pressure Democrats by highlighting the risk of missed military paychecks later this month.
Separately, the Trump administration has moved to lay off thousands of federal workers during the shutdown, prompting legal challenges. A court ruling on Wednesday temporarily halted the firings amid concerns over due process and political targeting.
Efforts to pass a short-term funding bill have failed repeatedly in the Senate, with Democrats demanding health care concessions and Republicans refusing to negotiate until the government reopens.
What People Are Saying
Kash Patel at an Oval Office event on Wednesday: "You've found a way to get these individuals paid during a government shutdown. On behalf of the FBI, it's a great debt that we owe you."
Donald Trump to a CBS reporter on Wednesday: "We got the people that we want paid, paid. We want the FBI paid and we want the military paid."
House Speaker Mike Johnson: "They're having to triage federal spending. He added that it must be determined "what are the most essential services, personnel, policies and what are not.
"When we look at that, we prioritize troops and law enforcement."
What Happens Next
As the shutdown drags on, legal and political scrutiny over the administration’s funding maneuvers is likely to intensify. Lawmakers face mounting pressure to pass a comprehensive funding bill before the next military payday, while federal workers await clarity on back pay and job security.
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