Vice President Vance Discusses Military Pay Amid Government Shutdown

Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that U.S. military personnel will receive their pay on Friday, despite the ongoing Democratic government shutdown. However, he cautioned that “we can’t pay everyone.”

Speaking to reporters after a lunch with Senate Republicans, Vance expressed his belief that the Trump administration is able to ensure continued compensation for troops, at least for now. He also mentioned that he’s addressing the impending expiration of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the end of the month.

“Will our troops be paid on Friday? Yes, we believe we can continue to pay our troops on Friday,” Vance stated. “Unfortunately, we can’t pay everyone because we’ve been treated so badly by Democrats.”

His remarks follow the revelation that billionaire Timothy Mellon, a Trump supporter, is the source of a $130 million donation aimed at facilitating military pay during the shutdown, which is now entering its fourth week.

According to reports, Mellon was identified by two individuals familiar with the situation as the donor behind the significant contribution to the Department of the Army. This funding is intended to cover salaries and benefits for active-duty personnel.

Sean Parnell, the chief spokesman for the Pentagon, confirmed the receipt of the $130 million in donations, noting that it fell under the General Gift Receipt Authority.

Mellon’s generous donation aligns with President Trump’s ongoing efforts to ensure that service members receive their paychecks by October 15.

In a post on Truth Social dated October 11, Trump instructed Army Secretary Pete Hegseth to “use all available funds to get our troops paid on Oct. 15.” He emphasized that funding has been secured and that it will be utilized to pay military personnel. “We will not allow Democrats to hold our military and our entire national security hostage with a dangerous government shutdown,” he added.

In a memorandum signed on October 15, Trump directed Hegseth to collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget to access all available funds to ensure military paychecks are distributed promptly.

The memo underscored that failing to obtain timely military compensation poses a serious threat to the readiness and effectiveness of the Armed Forces in protecting the nation.