Trump Announces $1,776 Payments to 1.45 Million Troops

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that approximately 1.45 million active-duty and reserve U.S. military service members will receive a one-time payment of $1,776, dubbed the Warrior Dividend, in the coming days before Christmas.

The announcement came during a primetime address from the White House, where Trump described the payment as a tribute to the nation's founding in 1776. "In honor of our nation's founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776," Trump said. "Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations to everybody." A Pentagon official confirmed the checks would be distributed by Saturday, providing direct financial support to eligible troops and their families.

Eligibility covers active-duty service members in pay grades O-6 and below as of November 30, including officers up to the rank of colonel in the Army or equivalent in other branches. Reserve component members qualify if they are on active-duty orders lasting at least 31 days as of the same date. This includes roughly 1.28 million active-duty personnel and 174,000 reservists, according to administration estimates.

The total cost of the initiative is about $2.6 billion,...