Vance says troops will be paid as pressure builds on Congress to end shutdown

JD Vance (Nathan Howard/The New York Times via AP)

Vice president JD Vance said that he believes US military members will be paid at the end of the week, but did not specify how the Trump administration will reconfigure funding in the second-longest government shutdown.

The funding fight in Washington gained new urgency this week as millions of Americans face the prospect of losing food assistance, more federal workers miss their first full paycheck and recurring delays at airports snarl travel plans.

The building strain on politicians to end the impasse was magnified by the nation’s largest federal employee union, which called on Congress to immediately pass a funding bill and ensure workers receive full pay.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the two political parties have made their point.

“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship,” said Mr Kelley, whose union carries considerable political weight with Democrats.

Volunteer Cindy Leiva helps load a vehicle during a food distribution targeting households affected by the federal shutdown (Eric Gay/AP)

Still, Democratic senators, including those representing states with many federal workers, did not appear ready to back down.

Virginia senator Tim Kaine said he was insisting on commitments from the White House to prevent the administration from mass firing more workers.

Democrats also want Congress to extend subsidies for health plans under the Affordable Care Act.

“We’ve got to get a deal with Donald Trump,” Mr Kaine said.

But shutdowns grow more painful the longer they go. Soon, with closures lasting a fourth full week as of Tuesday, millions of Americans are likely to experience the difficulties firsthand.

“This week, more than any other week, the consequences become impossible to ignore,” said Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference.

The nation’s 1.3 million active-duty service members are at risk of missing a paycheck on Friday.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration ensured they were paid by shifting eight billion dollars from military research and development funds to make payroll.

But it is unclear if the Trump administration is willing — or able — to shift money again.

Larger still, the Trump administration says funding will run out on Friday for the food assistance programme that is relied upon by 42 million Americans to supplement their grocery bills.

The administration has rejected the use of more than five billion dollars in contingency funds to keep benefits flowing into November. And it says states will not be reimbursed if they temporarily cover the cost of benefits next month.

The Agriculture Department says the contingency fund is intended to help respond to emergencies such as natural disasters.

Democrats say the decision concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme, known as Snap, goes against the department’s previous guidance concerning its operations during a shutdown.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the administration made an intentional choice not to fund Snap in November, calling it an “act of cruelty”.