President claims bonus the result of tariff revenue but stipend had already been approved in tax-and-spend bill

When Donald Trump promised a one-time $1,776 payment for 1.45 million US military workers to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence during a primetime TV address on Wednesday, he pointed to his favorite source of federal funding.

“Because of tariffs,” the US president said, along with his massive tax-and-spending bill, “we are sending every soldier $1,776 – and the checks are already on the way. Nobody deserves it more than our military.”

In reality, the payments will be funded by repurposing military housing assistance – approved by Congress as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed senior administration official.