A bipartisan measure aimed at immediately paying active-duty troops and essential federal employees, including Capitol Police officers, who are working without pay during the protracted government shutdown, was dramatically rejected in the Senate Friday evening.
The bill, the Shutdown Fairness Act, failed to clear the 60-vote threshold, with a final tally of 53 to 43. The vote marks the second time a majority of Democrats have blocked legislation designed to ensure paychecks for some of the federal workforce during the current funding lapse, which has now stretched to 38 days.
With all federal employees missing at least one full paycheck since the shutdown began on October 1, the failure to advance the bill drew immediate and sharp criticism from Republican leadership.
“A NO vote is a vote to refuse to pay air traffic controllers who are working,” blasted Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso. “Refuse to pay TSA agents who are working. Refuse to pay military members who are serving around the world. Refuse to pay Capitol Police officers who are here in this building working.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune ripped democrats, saying that he’d be “flat-out embarrassed” to walk past unpaid Capitol Police and junior staffers “thanks to Democrats.”
Only three Democrats crossed the aisle to support the measure: Sens. Ben Ray Luján (NM), Jon Ossoff (GA), and Raphael Warnock (GA). Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (PA), who had supported the bill previously, did not vote.
Democrats defended their opposition by arguing the legislation did not cover all federal workers. However, they simultaneously continue to refuse to vote to reopen the government, which would guarantee pay for the entire workforce.
The standoff comes as some progressive Democrats publicly commit to keeping the government shuttered, claiming recent election victories give them a mandate. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (CT) argued that a “surrender” without concessions could jeopardize the party’s standing with its base ahead of the 2026 election.
Earlier in the day, Republicans rejected a Democratic offer to exchange the end of the shutdown for an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies. GOP lawmakers remain firm, stating they will not negotiate on health care until Democrats vote to fund the government.
The Senate Republicans’ X account stated their position clearly, calling the proposed $35 billion for insurance subsidies a “Hard no, Chuck,” referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
President Donald Trump has since called on the Senate to remain in session over the weekend to find a resolution and for Republicans to invoke the “nuclear option” to kill the legislative filibuster and pass a funding measure on their own.
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