- A Republican-led bill to pay essential federal employees during the government shutdown failed to advance in the Senate, falling short of the required 60 votes.
- Democrats blocked the measure, arguing it was a political “ruse” that dangerously excluded furloughed workers and gave the administration too much power over the workforce.
- Despite the failed vote, key lawmakers on both sides expressed optimism for reaching a bipartisan compromise to pay all federal workers, possibly as soon as this weekend.
- The legislative stalemate occurs as hundreds of thousands of federal employees are on the verge of missing their first full paychecks due to the ongoing funding lapse.
Senate Rejects GOP Bill to Pay Federal Workers Amid Shutdown
A Republican measure aimed at providing immediate pay to federal employees working through the government shutdown has failed in the Senate, deepening the financial uncertainty for a workforce caught in a political crossfire. The “Shutdown Fairness Act” fell on Thursday in a 54-45 vote, unable to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster and advance the legislation.
The GOP-led bill was designed to pay “excepted” employees who are required to continue working without pay during the funding lapse. However, the narrow scope of the bill drew sharp criticism and ultimately led to its failure on the Senate floor.
Partisan Divide Stalls Relief for Workers
Democrats largely voted against the measure, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeling it a “ruse” and “another tool for Trump to hurt federal workers.” The opposition argued that the bill gave the president authority to selectively pay certain employees while ignoring those who have been furloughed.
“We will not give Donald Trump a license to play politics with people’s livelihoods,” Schumer stated on Thursday.
Leading up to the vote, Democrats presented their own alternatives. Proposals from Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) sought to provide immediate pay to all federal employees—both furloughed and excepted—as well as military members and some federal contractors. Their versions also included protections to prevent the administration from initiating reductions in force (RIFs), or layoffs, during the shutdown. Republicans struck down both Democratic proposals.
“If you allow them to decide who they’re going to keep on the job… you’re giving them also a blank check as to who they’re going to send home and who they’re going to punish,” said Van Hollen.
A Glimmer of Hope for a Weekend Deal?
Despite the public failure of the votes, the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), expressed surprising optimism for a swift resolution. He signaled a willingness to negotiate on the key sticking points that have created the deadlock.
“We’re basically in agreement here,” Johnson told reporters. “I’m willing to add furloughed workers, and now it’s just kind of down to the reductions in force… I’m actually quite hopeful — I think we can fix it over the weekend.”
Johnson added that finding a solution on paying federal workers “could open up a path to opening the government as well.”
The Human Cost of the Stalemate
This legislative back-and-forth offers little comfort to federal workers who are expecting to miss their first full paychecks within days. While a 2019 law guarantees retroactive pay once the shutdown ends, the immediate financial strain is mounting.
Union leaders expressed frustration, urging lawmakers to focus on the root cause. “Clearly, we want people to get paid, but quite honestly, what we want is the shutdown to end,” said Dave Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union. “We don’t want other sorts of bills to come into play to mitigate the impacts of the shutdown — stop the shutdown.”
Image Referance: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay/2025/10/despite-failed-senate-vote-lawmakers-hopeful-for-reaching-bipartisan-agreement-to-pay-feds/