In a stark display of partisan deadlock, the U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected competing Republican and Democratic bills aimed at providing paychecks to federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 24th day. The failure leaves more than a million employees facing their first missed full paycheck on Friday, exacerbating the human toll of the impasse.
The Republican-led measure, known as the “Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025” and sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), sought to guarantee back pay for “essential” workers required to continue duties without compensation during the shutdown. This included active-duty military members, TSA screeners, Border Patrol agents, Capitol Police, and park rangers, among others, totaling hundreds of thousands of employees. The bill, which would apply to future shutdowns as well, fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance past a filibuster, passing on a 54-45 vote. Three Democrats, Senators John Fetterman (Pa.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), and Raphael Warnock (Ga.), crossed the aisle to support it, but the majority of their party held firm in opposition.
Democrats countered with their own proposals, including the “True Shutdown Fairness Act” introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), which would have compensated all federal employees, including the roughly 700,000 on furlough, while also prohibiting further mass layoffs by the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget. A narrower Democratic alternative from Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) focused on essential workers but included additional protections. Republicans, led by Sen. Johnson, swiftly objected to unanimous consent requests for these bills, effectively blocking them without a full vote.
The votes underscore the deepening divide as the shutdown, triggered by congressional failure to pass a funding deal, becomes the second-longest in history. Republicans continue to push a House-passed bill for temporary funding at current levels, a measure the Senate has rejected 12 times. Democrats, meanwhile, demand protections for expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and warn of looming crises, including SNAP funding shortfalls affecting millions and premium spikes during open enrollment.
As lawmakers prepare to recess for the weekend, top negotiators from both parties admit no breakthrough is imminent. The standoff, rooted in broader battles over spending and policy riders, shows few signs of resolution. For federal employees already stretched thin, Thursday’s failures mark another chapter in a crisis that prioritizes politics over paychecks.
