Vance: Military Will Be Paid Amid Shutdown Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President JD Vance says U.S. troops will be paid despite the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its fourth week. With food aid, preschool programs, and health care access on the brink, pressure mounts on lawmakers to end the impasse. Meanwhile, legal challenges and partisan gridlock stall efforts to reopen the government.
Government Shutdown Crisis Quick Looks
- VP JD Vance pledges military pay amid shutdown uncertainty.
- SNAP food assistance for 42 million at risk by Friday.
- Head Start programs may close, affecting over 65,000 children.
- Senate fails for 13th time to pass funding bill.
- Federal judge blocks Trump administration from firing workers.
- Democrats demand ACA subsidies and worker protections.
- Schumer warns of rising ACA health insurance premiums.
- States sue USDA over refusal to release SNAP funds.
- Republicans blame Democrats for stalling government funding bill.
- Shutdown is second-longest in U.S. history.
Deep Look: Vance Promises Troop Pay as Shutdown Worsens, Aid and Services at Risk
WASHINGTON — October 28, 2025 — As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth full week, Vice President JD Vance attempted to reassure the public by promising that U.S. military personnel will continue to receive paychecks. But his statement came without clear details on how the Trump administration plans to rearrange funds, and as critical programs like food assistance and preschool education face imminent collapse.
“We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now,” Vance said following a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans. His remarks come as over a million active-duty service members prepare for potential missed paychecks, and as 42 million Americans reliant on food assistance programs brace for benefits to run out.
The White House is under mounting pressure as the effects of the shutdown become more pronounced. Federal workers have already missed a full paycheck, and a coalition of 25 states — along with Washington, D.C. — has filed a lawsuit demanding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture release contingency funds to extend food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The administration has thus far rejected using over $5 billion in SNAP contingency funds, arguing the money is reserved for natural disasters, not budget disputes. Vance described the funding reconfiguration efforts as “trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,” adding to the confusion around the administration’s strategy.
SNAP, Head Start, and Essential Programs in Jeopardy
SNAP benefits could expire as soon as Friday if Congress fails to act. Democratic leaders argue the Trump administration is weaponizing the shutdown, intentionally cutting services to force political concessions.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision not to fund SNAP through November an “act of cruelty.”
Meanwhile, over 130 federally funded Head Start preschool programs are expected to lose their funding this weekend, impacting more than 65,000 young children nationwide. The National Head Start Association warned that the closures would disproportionately affect low-income families.
Court Blocks Shutdown Firings
In another significant development, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday to block the Trump administration from firing federal workers during the shutdown. Her ruling followed a lawsuit from labor unions who alleged the layoffs were politically motivated and legally indefensible.
The judge ruled that agencies may not issue new layoff notices or act on those issued since the shutdown began on October 1. This represents a major legal blow to the administration, which had reportedly considered mass firings as a way to reduce pressure on lawmakers to pass a funding bill.
Congressional Deadlock Deepens
Despite mounting public pressure and growing legal entanglements, Congress remains in a state of paralysis. A Senate vote to reopen the government failed for the 13th time just before Vance’s appearance. Republicans are aiming to peel off a handful of Senate Democrats to pass a stopgap funding measure, but the strategy has yet to bear fruit.
House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a continuing resolution back on September 19 and have since refused to return for negotiations, insisting that Democrats accept the GOP’s bill without alterations.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are demanding not only full funding but also provisions to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent future mass layoffs. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine insisted on guarantees that no additional federal workers would be terminated as a condition for moving forward.
Health Care Flashpoint: ACA Premiums Set to Spike
Health care has become another critical sticking point. As open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act plans approaches on Saturday, many Americans are unaware that previewing options has been delayed. The federal Healthcare.gov site is still showing 2025 plans, leaving consumers in the dark about premium increases expected next year.
Schumer warned that once Americans begin to see the new costs, public anger will intensify. “They are going to cry out,” he said, predicting increased pressure on Republicans to compromise.
Republicans have held firm, stating they will not negotiate over ACA provisions until the government is fully reopened. “We’re going to have that conversation,” said Sen. David McCormick (R-PA), “but not while the government is shut down.”
Delays, Lawsuits, and Economic Fallout Continue
Beyond social programs, the shutdown has begun to disrupt broader infrastructure. Airport operations are slowing due to unpaid staff and mounting delays, causing nationwide travel disruptions. Federal employee unions, including the powerful American Federation of Government Employees, have called on Congress to immediately reopen the government and guarantee back pay.
Union President Everett Kelley stressed that both parties have made their point, but continuing the shutdown is no longer tenable. “No half measures and no gamesmanship,” he said.
The shutdown — now the second-longest in American history — has already inflicted wide-ranging harm, and with no clear resolution in sight, the economic and political fallout continues to grow.
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