Vance at Marines' 250th Amid Shutdown

Vice President JD Vance, the first Marine to hold the vice presidency, attended Camp Pendleton’s “America’s Marines 250: From Sea to Shore” celebration, which drew thousands and featured amphibious assault demonstrations, SEAL jumps and beach landings. Vance criticized diversity quotas and partisan politics as impediments to military effectiveness and said the administration would work to ensure enlisted Marines are paid during the federal government shutdown, remarks echoed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. House leaders said the Pentagon has identified roughly $8 billion that could be redirected to cover military pay. Organizers denied early reports that live-fire demonstrations would close nearby Interstate 5, saying all training occurred on approved ranges and followed safety protocols. The event coincided with nationwide “No Kings” protests, an overlap that highlighted free-speech tensions as debate over administration policy risked overshadowing anniversary observances.