Rep. Madeleine Dean fumes on CNN as she blasts President Trump for using unspent R&D funds to pay troops during the Democrat shutdown. (CNN / Screenshot)
Democrat Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) lashed out after President Donald Trump announced that he would use unspent research and development (R&D) funds to pay U.S. troops amid the ongoing Democrat-caused government shutdown.
During a CNN interview with John Berman, Rep. Dean is fuming that President Trump is keeping our brave troops paid during the Democrat-led shutdown.
John Berman: “How do you feel about these paychecks going out during the shutdown? I don’t think anyone’s opposed to people being paid, but people look at this and say this could actually extend the shutdown because it takes out some of the pressure points…”
Rep. Madeleine Dean: “Of course I want our military paid. Of course I want federal law enforcement officers to be paid. There’s a way to do that. I’m an appropriator. We should have passed appropriations bills. There’s a way to run a government, and this is not the way to run a government.”
WATCH:
Democrat Rep. Madeleine Dean is outraged that President Trump is keeping our troops paid during the Democrat Shutdown.
DEAN: “This is not the way to run a government!” pic.twitter.com/C26BNpVYWk
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 14, 2025
Democrats are angry that President Trump outsmarted them and found a way to protect the troops while they continue to play politics with America’s security.
On Saturday, President Trump announced that he was tapping unused federal R&D funds to ensure America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines would still receive their paychecks on October 15.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
According to a Pentagon official, approximately $8 billion originally designated for research, development, testing, and evaluation would be redirected to military payroll if the shutdown continues, Reuters reported.
Despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the 60-vote threshold in the Senate has given Democrats the power to hold the government hostage.
Instead of negotiating, they’re digging in their heels and accusing Trump of “abusing power” for simply paying the troops.
House Speaker Mike Johnson fired back:
Look, my understanding of this is they have every right to move the funds around — duly appropriated dollars from Congress to the Department of Defense. There were some R&D accounts that had not been spent, and that’s my understanding — that’s the money that’s being used to pay the troops right now.
If the Democrats want to go to court and challenge troops being paid, bring it. Okay?
“I’m grateful for a Commander in Chief who understands the priorities of the country, the necessity of national defense, and the urgency that we all feel — and have voted for eight times. Republicans have voted in Congress eight times now, between the House and Senate, to fund the troops and pay federal workers in all these essential jobs and agencies, because we understand the necessity of that.
Meanwhile, the Democrats voted eight times to block their paychecks.
I’m grateful we have a President who is willing to step up and do the right thing.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: Speaker Johnson says that “if Democrats want to go to court, bring it,” over Trump redirecting unspent R&D money to pay the troops.
I think they should ABSOLUTELY sue the Trump administration for this.
They will show the American people that Democrats WANT to hurt… pic.twitter.com/lyUYnPT6v1
— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) October 14, 2025
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