J.D. Vance says administration can continue paying troops during shutdown ‘at least for now’

Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday that the administration has found enough money to fund another paycheck for active duty military troops amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Active duty military members are paid twice a month. The Trump administration transferred unobligated Defense Department research and development funding to pay the troops on Oct. 15.

Mr. Vance said troops will also receive their next scheduled paycheck Friday.

“We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now,” he told reporters after a Senate Republican Conference lunch in the Capitol.

Mr. Vance did not specify what funding the administration planned to use for the military paychecks.

President Trump said last week that a wealthy friend of his, whom he declined to name, offered to cover any financial shortfall and ensure troops get their paychecks.

The Pentagon confirmed that it received an anonymous $130 million donation “under its general gift acceptance authority.”

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

Mr. Vance said the administration has been “trying to keep as much open as possible” during the shutdown, but because of limited funds, it cannot afford to pay all essential government employees who are required to continue reporting to work.

“Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to pay everybody because we’ve been handed a very bad hand by the Democrats,” he said.

Senate Democrats have been filibustering a bill to reopen the government as they demand a bipartisan negotiation on health care, including an extension of COVID-era enhancements to Obamacare premium subsidies set to expire this year.

They blocked a stopgap bill that would fund the government through Nov. 21 for the 13th time on Tuesday.

Mr. Vance commended the three “moderate Democrats” who have voted with Republicans to reopen the government and said they just need “five more reasonable Democrats.”