Vice President JD Vance delivered an inspiring keynote at the 250th Birthday Ball of the United States Marine Corps, sharing stories from his own Marine service and honoring the enduring brotherhood, integrity, and strength of America’s warfighters. Vance became the first sitting Vice President to attend the event as a Marine veteran and celebrated the Corps’ tradition of “peace through strength.” Amid the ongoing government shutdown, with federal workers unpaid and air traffic chaos mounting, Vance also addressed the crisis—promising that military service members will have clear missions, support, and safe returns, and calling for Congress to end the impasse before holiday travel is further disrupted.