Military members checking their bank accounts received a pleasant surprise on Wednesday, Oct. 15, after President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to reallocate $6.5 billion from unspent funds to pay active-duty troops. Wednesday's paychecks may only offer temporarily financial relief if the government shutdown continues.

Some 1.5 million civilian federal government employees fall under the General Schedule or “GS” pay and promotion system, making them the biggest civilian white-collar federal workforce. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force ...