Vance tells Marines they’ll get paid despite ‘Schumer shutdown’

During a celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California, Vice President J.D. Vance addressed assembled Marines and promised that, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, they would still receive full pay. 

Vance, speaking alongside Pete Hegseth (the Secretary of Defense) and his wife, noted that President Donald J. Trump was proud of the troops and committed to ensuring their compensation. He attributed the pay risk to the “Schumer shutdown,” singling out congressional Democrats for the impasse. 

In his remarks to the troops, Vance stressed that paying enlisted Marines is not only a matter of fairness, but also part of supporting the regional economy—joking that if the Marines weren’t paid, every bar in Southern California might go out of business. 

The event was notable not just for its message but for its setting: Marines conducted a large, live-fire demonstration including amphibious vehicles and artillery, which led to the temporary closure of Interstate 5 and stirred criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom over safety concerns and what he called a politicised use of the military. 

Vance used the occasion to criticize what he described as attempts to inject diversity mandates and partisan policy into the U.S. armed forces, asserting that such efforts undermine operational effectiveness.

With the shutdown still unresolved, Senate Republicans scheduled a vote on legislation that would guarantee service-member pay even amidst funding gaps—a step reflecting concern over how the troops’ pay would be secured.

Source: THE HILL