Vance Says Troops Will Be Paid as Shutdown Fallout Deepens, But Offers No Details on Funding Fix

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday he believes US military personnel will still receive paychecks at the end of the week, even as the Trump administration scrambles to reconfigure funding during what has become the second-longest government shutdown in US history.

“We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now,” Vance told reporters after meeting Senate Republicans at the Capitol. “We’ve got food stamp benefits that are set to run out in a week. We’re trying to keep as much open as possible. We just need the Democrats to actually help us out.”

The administration has yet to explain how it will finance troop pay this time. Earlier in the month, it redirected $8 billion from military research and development funds to cover payroll.

The budget standoff is now entering its fourth week, with pressure mounting as more federal employees miss paychecks, millions face the loss of food assistance, and travel delays worsen across airports.

Shutdown Impacts Deepen

Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports 42 million Americans, is expected to run out Friday. The Trump administration has rejected using more than $5 billion in contingency funds to extend benefits into November, saying states will not be reimbursed if they cover the costs themselves.

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia filed suit Tuesday in Massachusetts, seeking to compel the Agriculture Department to use those emergency funds. Vance compared the administration’s financial juggling to “trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with the budget.”

Democrats argue the administration’s refusal to use the contingency funds contradicts past USDA guidance. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “an act of cruelty.”

The Head Start early education program is also running out of money, with more than 130 centers expected to lose funding by Saturday — affecting over 65,000 preschoolers nationwide.

Judge Blocks Federal Layoffs

In San Francisco, US District Judge Susan Illston indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from firing federal workers during the shutdown, citing “arbitrary and politically motivated” reasons for the planned layoffs. Her ruling extends an earlier restraining order and bars agencies from issuing or acting on layoff notices until the lawsuit is resolved.

Political Stalemate Persists

Despite the growing fallout, efforts to end the shutdown remain stalled. Senate Republicans are still trying to peel off a few Democratic votes to pass a short-term funding bill, but a 13th Senate vote on reopening the government failed Tuesday.

Republicans blame Democrats for refusing to negotiate without policy concessions. “Government workers and every other American affected by this shutdown have become nothing more than pawns in the Democrats’ political games,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

Democrats, meanwhile, insist that any funding deal must also address surging health insurance premiums and prevent large-scale federal layoffs. “We’ve got to get a deal with Donald Trump,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

Health Care Dispute Adds Pressure

The standoff comes just as Americans prepare for open enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans. Normally, consumers can preview next year’s premiums a week in advance, but as of Tuesday, Healthcare.gov was still showing outdated information.

“People in more than 30 states are going to be aghast when they see their bills,” Schumer said. “That will increase pressure on Republicans to negotiate.”

Republicans, however, say health care talks must wait until the government reopens. “I’m particularly worried about premiums going up for working families,” said Sen. David McCormick. “But we’re not going to have that conversation until the government opens.”

As the shutdown stretches on with no resolution in sight, millions of Americans — from service members to low-income families — are bracing for the fallout.