Vance says U.S. troops will get paid Friday despite shutdown

(The Center Square) – Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday that 1.3 million U.S. troops will get a paycheck on Friday despite a congressional funding lapse and stalemate that has partially shuttered the federal government for the last 28 days.

U.S. troops usually aren't paid when Congress fails to pass appropriation bills on time. Both parties have blamed each other for the shutdown, which started Oct. 1.

Vance told reporters that the military will get paid.

"We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now," Vance told reporters 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."

Earlier this month, the Trump administration used about $8 billion of unobligated research and development, testing and evaluation funds from last year to cover payroll on Oct. 15. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the Department of War has enough unobligated funding to pay military members through October. 

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"I think we'll be able to pay them beginning in November, but by Nov. 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren't going to be able to get paid," Bessent said on "Face the Nation."

Some 334,900 civilian employees at the Department of War were set to be furloughed during the government shutdown, according to a Pentagon contingency plan released before the shutdown took effect.

Each day the federal government remains closed costs U.S. taxpayers about $400 million in salary for about 750,000 furloughed federal workers, according to a letter from the Congressional Budget Office.

Workers generally don't collect that back pay until after they return to work when the shutdown ends. The practice upends the lives of federal employees and their families.

The previous government shutdown lasted 35 days during Trump's first term. That was a record for duration.