Trump announces $1,776 ‘warrior dividend’ checks to be sent to members of the military

President Trump said Wednesday his administration would send $1,776 “warrior dividend” checks to members of the military, crediting tariffs and the passage of a massive GOP tax and spending bill earlier this year.

Trump said during a primetime address to the nation that 1.4 million soldiers would receive the checks, with the amount chosen to honor the founding of the country in 1776.

“And the checks are already on the way. Nobody understood that one until about 30 minutes ago,” Trump said, hinting that the announcement came together just before his address.

The White House said the dividends would be sent to active-duty service members in the pay grades of 0-6 and below, and to reserve component service members in the pay grades of O-6 and below and on active duty orders of 31 days or more as of Nov. 30.

The announcement of a dividend marked one of the few tangible policies Trump detailed in his primetime address, which was billed as a speech to discuss the administration’s efforts to bring down costs for Americans.

Trump has throughout his year in office teased the idea of sending dividend checks to millions of Americans, first through money saved from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and later via tariff revenue. But members of Congress have balked at the idea, arguing that money should be used to lower the debt.