Democrats Reject Bipartisan Bill To Pay Troops, ‘Essential’ Federal Workers During Shutdown

Senate Democrats rejected legislation on Thursday afternoon that would have ensured U.S. service members and some federal workers do not miss a paycheck during the government shutdown.

Senators voted 54 to 45 largely along party lines to advance the bill sponsored by Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, falling short of the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. Just three Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia — crossed party lines to back the legislation.

Johnson’s Shutdown Fairness Act would have paid military personnel and federal workers reporting to work during the shutdown, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, air traffic controllers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

All federal employees are poised to miss a paycheck on Friday due to the continued funding lapse.

“I’m the guy that’s going to consistently vote for country over party,” Fetterman said in a video posted to X on Wednesday. “I’m always going to vote for paying our military over the party. I’m always going to vote for paying the Capitol Police over my party.”

Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, notably opposed the legislation. The duo has consistently crossed party lines with Fetterman to support Republicans’ efforts to fund the government.

Democrats justified their opposition in part by zeroing in on the federal employees who have been furloughed and not covered by the bill. However, the same bloc of Democrats have consistently voted against reopening the government 12 times, which would ensure all federal workers are paid.

“This is a bill to let Donald Trump decide who gets paid and who doesn’t. That’s not something we’re going to give to Donald Trump,” Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told the DCNF on Tuesday. “Donald Trump thinks he is king and that he can decide how every nickel in the United States budget is spent. That is not what the Constitution says.”

“[If] we want to get federal employees paid, then the Republicans need to come to the table and reopen the government,” Warren continued.

Republican leaders slammed Democrats’ decision to filibuster the legislation despite the caucus voicing concern about federal employees going unpaid during the shutdown.

“When Democrats stand up here today and criticize this bill, remember this. Senate Democrats have a choice. Pay essential workers who are working right now without a paycheck. Or send them into the weekend with empty bank accounts and bills they cannot pay,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, the second-ranking Senate Republican said Thursday. “If Democrats vote no, it won’t be about fairness. It will be about politics.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also excoriated Democrats for refusing to pay their own staff during the funding lapse — while lawmakers continue to receive their salaries. The majority leader has notably requested his pay be withheld during the shutdown in addition to many other lawmakers.

“The 335 people who had to be here night before last to listen to that, they would finally get paid,” Thune said on the Senate floor, referring to floor aides and Capitol Police officers who worked overnight during Democratic Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley’s 22-hour speech.

The 23 day government shutdown is expected to stretch into next week. The Senate is not expected to reconvene until next Monday when lawmakers are expected to take up legislation to end the shutdown — for a 13th time.

The measure is likely to fail barring Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reversing course to fund the government.

“That’s pretty obstinate of them isn’t it? Again, they’re such hypocrites,” Johnson told the DCNF. “Go back to the last shutdown. They’re saying, ‘Go vote for a clean CR [continuing resolution]. This is unconscionable to keep the government closed.’”

“So here we are. We offer them a clean CR at President Biden’s spending levels. They just won’t take ‘yes’ for an answer,” Johnson continued.

Andi Shae Napier contributed to this report.