Senate vote blocks GOP plan to pay federal workers, military during shutdown
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Senate Democrats have again blocked a Republican plan to provide paychecks to federal workers and the military as shutdowns shift into high gear.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., once again tried to advance a modified version of his “Shutdown Fairness Act” bill that would pay federal workers and the military now and during future government shutdowns.
It was blocked last month over concerns from Senate Democrats that it did not include furloughed workers.
SCHUMER, DEMS ANNOUNCED ALTERNATIVE CLOSURE PLAN, REQUESTED OBAMACARE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO BE EXTENDED BY ONE YEAR
Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY), continued to take digs at Senate Republicans in their attempt to reopen the government. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Johnson noted on the Senate floor that he amended the bill to include furloughed workers after talks with Senate Democrats and that his legislation has the support of many federal employee unions.
“They’re sick and tired of being used as pawns of political dysfunction here. They’re sick of it,” Johnson said.
Still, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D., who initially blocked the bill over concerns it allowed President Donald Trump to pick and choose who gets paid. and after fireworks on the Senate floor by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the bill was blocked largely along party lines.
THUNE SAYS ‘THE WHEELS ARE OFF’ AS REPUBLICANS CONSIDER THE NEXT SHUTDOWN MOVEMENT
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Tom Williams/Getty Images)
“It’s about leverage, right? Isn’t that what you all say? It’s about leverage,” Thune said. “This is not oppression. This is the life of the American people.”
Johnson’s bill to hit the floor was not the first plan Senate Republicans introduced Friday. Thune wanted to put the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to a vote again, but newfound Democratic unity following a landslide victory on Election Night earlier this week derailed attempts to build a bipartisan path forward.
The GOP’s push to pay federal workers amid the ongoing 38-day shutdown comes as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) and his group announced proposals against Senate Republicans’ plan to reopen the government.
‘COOLING IRONY’: DEMOCRATS RISK BETRAYING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS WITH COMBINATION OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks at a news conference with other members of the Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon on October 28, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Posner/Anatolia via Getty Images)
Schumer’s proposal included adding a one-year extension to the expiration of Obamacare subsidies in exchange for Democrats’ votes to reopen the government; This was the main sticking point of the shutdown.
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But Republicans again did not like the proposal, which a source told Fox News Digital was presented privately to Senate Republicans last week and summarily rejected.
The Senate is expected to meet on Saturday to vote for the 15th time on the plan passed by the Parliament. Time will tell whether Schumer and his group will block this once again.
