House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries claimed a measure that would ensure troops and federal employees continue receiving pay during the government shutdown was a “political ploy” by Republicans.
The New York Democrat claimed the proposal was designed to give President Donald Trump too much control over who gets paid.
“It appears to be more like a political ploy giving Donald Trump discretion over which employees should be compensated and which employees should not be compensated,” Jeffries told reporters during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol.
“All employees should be compensated, and that will happen when we reopen the government.”
🚨WATCH: Jeffries tells @AndiNapier that he does NOT support legislation that the Senate is expected to vote on this week to pay federal employees and service members calling, it a "political ploy." pic.twitter.com/y0D9eQZhuE
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 20, 2025
The move comes as the shutdown enters its 20th day, leaving millions of federal workers uncertain about their next paycheck.
Despite growing public pressure, Democratic lawmakers have shown little willingness to compromise as the shutdown continues to strain government services.
The Senate bill Jeffries opposed would have provided pay to federal employees and military personnel still required to report to work.
Jeffries argued that such a measure distracts from Democrats’ larger priorities, particularly their demand for the inclusion of sweeping healthcare funding provisions totaling over $1 trillion in any government funding package.
Jeffries and almost all House Democrats voted against a funding bill in September that could have averted the shutdown.
Since then, he has reportedly urged Senate Democrats to keep the government closed until they secure those healthcare provisions, even as the shutdown continues.
On Monday evening, nearly every Senate Democrat voted against a bipartisan measure to reopen the government, marking the eleventh failed attempt to end the standoff.
When asked on CNN’s “OutFront” whether the shutdown could stretch beyond Thanksgiving, Jeffries avoided giving a meaningful answer.
Host Erin Burnett pressed him on Speaker Mike Johnson’s warning that this could become “the longest shutdown in the history of ever.”
Jeffries responded by saying Democrats were open to talks but insisted any spending deal must “meet the needs of the American people” while addressing what he described as a Republican-created healthcare crisis.
He claimed hospitals and clinics across the nation are closing because of GOP policies.
“We’re talking about the largest cut to Medicaid in American history,” Jeffries said. “Hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health clinics are closing all across America.”
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“Just earlier today, it was announced that more than 50 hospitals in rural Alabama are at risk of closing because of what Republicans have done in their one big ugly bill,” Jeffries added.
He was referring to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed on July 4.
Jeffries accused the GOP of endangering healthcare coverage by refusing to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, saying “tens of millions of Americans” could soon face higher premiums, copays, and deductibles.
Vice President JD Vance offered a different opinion while addressing Marines at Camp Pendleton over the weekend.
Speaking at the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration, Vance said the administration would make sure troops are paid despite the government closure.
“I bring greetings today from our commander in chief, Donald J. Trump, and he wanted me to tell each and every single one of you that he’s proud of you, that he loves you,” Vance said to applause.
He added that, “despite the Schumer shutdown, he is going to do everything he can to make sure you get paid exactly what you deserve.”
Vice President JD Vance Delivers Remarks at the 250th Anniversary Celebration for the United States Marine Corps https://t.co/vdZwZYUXiM
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) October 18, 2025
The vice president acknowledged that his remarks were “a little political,” noting that congressional Democrats “seem to want to keep the government shut down, even though it would mean that a lot of you would not get your paychecks.”
He told the crowd that he’d spoken directly with President Trump about ensuring military pay continues during the shutdown.
Vance said he told Trump they had to “figure out how to pay these Marines, both for their sake, but also because if we don’t pay our enlisted Marines, every bar in Southern California is going to go out of business,” Vance joked, earning laughter from the audience.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that a vote would take place next week on legislation to ensure service members continue receiving pay.
The measure, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson, would utilize unobligated funds already identified by the administration to cover costs if the shutdown persists.
Thune appeared on Fox Business Monday to criticize Democrats for repeatedly blocking bipartisan efforts to reopen the government. “
They’re going to have to start explaining to the American people why they consistently vote to shut down the government at a time when there are important priorities that need to be funded,” Thune said.
“Whether that’s air traffic control or TSA or border patrol, law enforcement, our troops obviously first and foremost — those are all things that very shortly you are not going to get paid if the government doesn’t open up.”
Thune predicted that Democrats’ strategy would soon collapse under public backlash.
He said the shutdown had already created frustration across the country, particularly after liberal groups held “No Kings” rallies over the weekend in protest of President Trump.
“They had their big protest this weekend, got all their left-wing groups satisfied all over the country,” Thune said.
“And seems like at least now they ought to come back to their senses and realize that shutting down the government’s not good for anybody — and I think they’re starting to feel the heat on that.”
So far, only three members of the Senate Democratic Caucus — Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Independent Angus King of Maine — have broken ranks to vote for temporary funding measures to reopen the government.
