TRUMP V. THE CHUMP: The Donald Says He’ll Pay For Fallen Warrior Burials Cut By Obama’s Shutdown
Billionaire Donald Trump has offered to pick up paying a “death gratuity” to families of four soldiers and a Marine who died in combat in Afghanistan over the weekend after the Pentagon announced it is suspending immediate payments to families of combat fatalities because of the government shutdown.
When service men and women are killed in combat, the Pentagon normally pays families $100,000 to cover funerals and the cost of families to travel to receive the remains of their loved ones.
The Pentagon suspended those payments after the government shutdown, stirring outrage on Capitol Hill.
The House is expected to take up a bill today that would have the payments resume.
In the meantime, Trump has offered to step in, and other private groups have said they will also lend a hand.
UPDATE: The House on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would restore the payment, according to The Hill. The bill must now be approved by the Senate and signed by President Obama before it can take effect.
