US News

Vets group to pay $20M amid shutdown

As efforts to resolve political gridlock that has closed the federal government drag on, an “outraged” veterans group is stepping up with its own $20 million to help wounded service men and women cover at least some of their bills.

The Wounded Warrior Project announced Tuesday it would send out $500 checks to its members if the government shutdown — now in its 15th day — prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sending regular checks by Nov. 1. The group has committed $20 million to the relief effort, it announced on its website.

“You’re hearing (from veterans) a lot of fear, and you’re hearing a lot of anger and frustration,” Steven Nardizzi, a co-founder and the executive director of Wounded Warrior Project, told USA Today.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told Congress last week that veterans’ benefits would end on November 1 if the shutdown does not end soon.

The $500 checks would not cover the full amount many veterans normally receive, but Nardizzi said the group had to do something to help its members directly in the absence of government action.

“You have folks who are dealing with mental health issues who are concerned about am I going to be able to feed my family at the end of the month,” Nardizzi told USA Today.

The shutdown has also affected the Defense Department’s ability to pay death benefits to the families of military personnel killed in action, but the Pentagon struck a deal with a private charity to make the $100,000 payments during the shutdown.

Late Tuesday Senate Democrats were trying to hammer out a deal that would avert a Treasury default and end the government shutdown, after a House effort collapsed.

USA Today reported that the $20 million effort would be among the largest made by a private group to ease disruptions caused by the shutdown. A Texas couple donated $10 million to keep Head Start running, the paper reported.

— with Reuters and AP