Senate Democrats Block Bill to Pay Federal Workers Amid Shutdown
Senate Democrats rejected bipartisan legislation on October 23, preventing a bill to ensure U.S. service members and federal workers are paid during the ongoing government shutdown from advancing.
Overview
- Senate Democrats rejected bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring U.S. service members and federal workers receive pay during a government shutdown.
- The proposed "Shutdown Fairness Act," a Republican-led initiative, failed to pass in a Senate vote held on October 23.
- The bill received 54 votes in favor and 45 against, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance through the Senate.
- Despite the party-line rejection, three Democratic senators broke ranks to support the legislation, voting in favor of paying troops and essential federal workers.
- The outcome means a mechanism to guarantee pay for federal employees and military personnel during the current shutdown was not established by this legislative effort.
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FAQ
The Shutdown Fairness Act is a bill introduced in the Senate that aims to provide appropriations to pay federal employees and U.S. service members who work during a government shutdown.
The bill failed to pass because it did not receive the required 60 votes to advance; it received 54 votes in favor and 45 against, with Senate Democrats rejecting the bipartisan legislation largely along party lines.
Three Democratic senators broke ranks with their party to vote in favor of the legislation ensuring pay for federal workers and military personnel during the shutdown.
Since the bill did not advance, there is no mechanism established by this legislative effort to guarantee pay for federal employees and military personnel during the current government shutdown.
As of October 23, 2025, the government shutdown has become the second-longest in U.S. history with no agreement in sight to end it.
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