The Pentagon has confirmed it will not pay death benefits to the families of troops killed in combat during the so-called government shutdown. With Obama's recent startling admission that he won't approve any measures to partially restore suspended government payments for purely political reasons, that puts the blame for this outrage squarely on his shoulders. "Unfortunately, as a result of the shutdown, we do not have the legal authority to make death gratuity payments at this time," said Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Defense Department spokesman. "However, we are keeping a close eye on those survivors who have lost loved ones serving in the Department of Defense."  The House intends to vote Wednesday to restore funding for the payments. Speaker John Boehner has accused the Obama administration "of needlessly withholding the money."  Over the weekend, four soldiers -- two of them Army Rangers -- and one Marine were killed while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. The bodies of the four soldiers will be returned to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday. More