The White House slammed Jeffries for his comments on the military pay bill as the shutdown continued

The The White House As tensions on Capitol Hill escalate over the ongoing government shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y. Condemned him.

“(Rep. Jeffries), making sure U.S. soldiers get paid while the Democrat government shuts down free healthcare for illegal aliens — that’s called America First. But you wouldn’t know it,” the White House wrote on X in reference to Jeffries’ criticism of the Shutdown Fairness Act.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. The Act was introduced and stated that it “appropriates funds for the wages and allowances of federal employees excluded from work for periods of interruption of appropriations and for other reasons.”

Hawley vowed to hold Democrats’ feet ‘to the fire’ with new government shutdown funding bills

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., holds a press conference on the fourteenth day of the U.S. government shutdown on October 14, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D. added the bill to the calendar last week and positioned it for a possible vote this week, According to Axios. The outlet noted that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. told reporters that if it passes the Senate, he will bring it to the House for a vote.

Jeffries echoed one of Democrats’ concerns about the law, which is that it doesn’t help furloughed workers.

“My understanding is that this is not a comprehensive bill that has actually been drafted Reopen the government At the same time, the issues facing the American people, including reducing the high cost of living and decisively addressing the Republican health care crisis, Jefferies told reporters on Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y. and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speak to reporters after his meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders regarding the government funding crisis, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at the Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Mike Johnson fires back at Hakeem Jeffries’ ‘desperate’ call for televised talk

“So, it’s not a statement that I support because it appears to be a political ploy to pick and choose — giving Donald Trump discretion — which employees should be compensated and which employees should not be compensated. All employees should be compensated and that will happen when we reopen the government,” he added.

The White House appeared to take issue with the “political stunt” comment, as it posted a screenshot of one of the headlines. The Daily Caller Highlighting that part of Jeffries’ comments, as well as criticizing the congressman.

President Donald Trump speaks with senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, 2025 in Quantico, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump instructed the Pentagon to ensure the military is paid despite the government shutdown

President Donald Trump recently bypassed Congress and signed a directive ordering the War Department to continue paying the US military despite the ongoing shutdown.

The White House said the move was necessary to protect “military readiness” as budget impasse continues. Order, therefore issued National Security Presidential Memorandum-8 (NSPM-8), directs the Department to use available fiscal year 2026 funds to cover military pay and allowances. Although it is unclear how the Pentagon is reallocating funds to comply with the order.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Democrats objected and said the president overstepped, with Trump citing his Article II authority as commander-in-chief when issuing the order, which includes active-duty troops and reservists on service orders.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jeffries’ office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.