During a visit to Camp Pendleton in California on Saturday, Vice President Vance assured the U.S. Marine Corps members that their paychecks would continue despite the ongoing government shutdown.

Vance, who was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and second lady Usha Vance, made these comments while attending the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary event.

In his address, Vance conveyed a message from President Donald J. Trump, stating, “I bring greetings today from our commander in chief, Donald J. Trump, who asked me to express his pride and love for each of you. Despite the Schumer shutdown, he is committed to ensuring you receive the pay you rightfully deserve.”

The vice president’s words were met with enthusiastic cheers and applause as he briefly addressed the political situation, noting, “I must get a little political here, as it seems congressional Democrats are intent on maintaining the government shutdown, even if it means delaying your paychecks.”

Vance shared that he had advised the president on the importance of securing pay for the Marines, not only for their own benefit but also humorously noting, “because if we don’t compensate our enlisted Marines, every bar in Southern California is going to go out of business.”

Senate Republicans have had questions about how Trump will pay more than 1 million military service members and what funding will go toward them. Trump recently ordered Hegseth to use “all available funds” to ensure the troops got their paychecks earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) put a vote on the calendar for next week on a bill to pay service members. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), would ensure service members are paid during the shutdown once unobligated funds identified by the administration run out.

Democrats have remained steadfast in negotiating an extension on soon-to-expire health care tax credits before agreeing to reopen the government.