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

Senate Democrats on Thursday afternoon rejected legislation that would have ensured that U.S. military personnel and some federal employees do not miss pay during the government shutdown.

Senators voted 54-45, largely along party lines, to advance the bill sponsored by Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, well below the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. Only three Democrats – Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia – crossed party lines to support the legislation. (RELATED: Hakeem Jeffries Calls Bill Paying Troops During Shutdown a ‘Political Prank’)

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

All federal employees are at risk of not receiving their paychecks Friday due to the ongoing funding gap.

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

Notably opposed the legislation were Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. The duo consistently crossed Fetterman partisan lines to support Republican efforts to defund the government.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 8: U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) walks to the U.S. Capitol to vote on October 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. The government remains paralyzed after Congress failed to reach a funding deal last week. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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

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

“[If] we want federal workers to be paid, so Republicans need to come to the table and reopen the government,” Warren continued.

Republican leaders criticized Democrats’ decision to filibuster the legislation, despite caucus concerns about federal employees not being paid 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 pay. Or send them into the weekend with empty bank accounts and bills they can’t pay,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, said Thursday. “If Democrats vote no, it won’t be about fairness. It’ll be about politics.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also criticized Democrats for refusing to pay their own staff during the funding period — while lawmakers continue to receive their salaries. The majority leader notably requested that his salary be withheld during the shutdown, like many other lawmakers.

“The 335 people who had to be here the night before last listening to this, they would finally get paid,” Thune said on the Senate floor, referring to the floor aides and Capitol Police officers who worked through the night during Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley’s 10 p.m. speech.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 15: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) (C), accompanied by Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) (L), leaves a weekly Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on October 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The 23-day government shutdown is expected to extend into next week. The Senate is not expected to reconvene until next Monday, when lawmakers are expected to pass legislation to end the shutdown — for the 13th time.

The measure is likely to fail unless Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer changes course on funding the government.

“That’s pretty stubborn of them, isn’t it? Again, they’re so hypocritical,” Johnson told the DCNF. “Go back to the last stop. They say: ‘Go vote for a clean CR.’ [continuing resolution]. It’s unacceptable to keep the government closed.’”

“So here we are. We’re offering them a clear CR at President Biden’s spending levels. They’re just not going to take ‘yes’ for an answer,” Johnson continued.

Andi Shae Napier contributed to this report.