Nearly all Senate Democrats on Friday night rejected a bipartisan bill to pay active-duty military personnel and federal workers reporting to work, including Capitol Police officers, during the 38-day government shutdown.
Lawmakers voted 53-43 to advance the federal workers' wage bill, seven votes shy of the Senate's 60-vote threshold. Failed vote means second time Democratic majority blocked Legislation to pay certain federal employees during the shutdown. (RELATED: Flights Could Cease Over Some US Areas If Democrat-Backed Shutdown Continues, Admin Warns)
Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia were the only Democrats to cross party lines to support Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson's Fair Shutdown Act. Democratic Senator John Fetterman Pennsylvania, which supported the bill on Oct. 23, did not vote. Luhan especially voted against the bill in October.
All federal employees have missed at least one full paycheck since the shutdown began on October 1.
“Let me be clear about what a 'no' vote means,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, the Senate's second-ranking Republican, said during testimony Friday. “A vote against is a vote to refuse to pay air traffic controllers who work. Refuse to pay TSA agents who work. Refuse to pay military members who serve around the world. Refuse to pay Capitol Police officers who work here in this building.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also criticized Democrats for their decision to extend the shutdown even though it would hurt essential federal workers working without pay during the shutdown.
“If I were a Democrat, I would be embarrassed—I mean downright embarrassed—to walk into this building every day,” Thune said Friday. “Walk past the men and women of the Capitol Police who are not getting paid thanks to the Democrats. Walk past the junior staff, many of whom are no doubt frantic at this point as they wonder how they're going to pay rent and continue to buy food.”
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 01: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) (center), flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) (left), Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso (R-WY) (2nd from left), and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) (R), speaks during a press conference on the building's Upper West Terrace US Capitol on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. The government shut down early Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal. (Photo by Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Democrats said they oppose the law because it does not apply to all federal employees. However, the faction refused to reopen the government, which would ensure pay for all federal employees.
The failed vote happened, as did some progressive Democrats. swore fight on, arguing that voters gave the party a mandate to shut down the government after winning Tuesday night's election.
Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy is one of the few Democrats who argued Ending the funding cut could jeopardize lawmakers' reputations among the party base.
“The 2026 election is just 12 months away,” Murphy told Punchbowl News on Thursday. “And if we give up without getting anything, and we cause many people in this country who have begun to believe in the Democratic Party to retreat again, I fear it will be difficult to get them off the mat for the election next fall.”
Republicans rejected offer Democrats on Friday afternoon would extend Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year in exchange for an end to the shutdown.
GOP lawmakers have been adamant throughout the 38-day shutdown that they will not negotiate health care policy until Democrats vote to fund the government.
“Democrats want to give $35 billion next year to insurance companies in subsidies without fraud controls and to benefit the rich. Hard no, Chuck,” X Senate Republicans report. wroteWe are talking about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
President Donald Trump called The Senate will meet over the weekend to hammer out an agreement. If lawmakers don't reach an agreement, Trump urged Republicans to use the nuclear option and destroy the Senate's legislative filibuster to pass the funding measure themselves.
Thune spoke to the Daily Caller News Foundation in an exclusive interview. interview On Wednesday, Republicans lack the votes to overturn a longstanding procedural norm.
“Not even close,” the majority leader said of the whip count.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and unbiased news service, is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher that can reach a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our policies or partnerships, please contact us [email protected].
