❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-backed bill to pay military servicemen and federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Republicans and Democrats, military service members, and federal workers.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, October 23, in Washington, D.C.
🎯IMPACT: The Senate remains deadlocked, and no solution to reopen the government is in sight.
A Republican-backed bill that would have ensured payment for military servicemembers and federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown was blocked by Senate Democrats. The legislation failed to garner the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster on a vote of 54 to 45.
Sponsored by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), the legislation authorized appropriations to ensure payments for federal employees required to work during the shutdown, as well as military personnel and contractors. An alternative bill, offered by Senate Democrats, that authorized money to pay all federal workers—including those on furlough—and prevent the White House from laying off more federal employees during the shutdown failed to pass on unanimous consent.
Largely considered as a test vote to gauge current Democrat support for a clean continuing resolution (CR) already adopted in the House, Sen. Johnson’s bill saw three Democrats join with the Republican majority: Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Ossoff is facing reelection in 2026 and is a top target for Republicans. Additionally, there was one absence on the vote.
Previously, Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Fetterman voted to pass the clean CR, suggesting that with the additions of Warnock and Ossoff, the Senate is inching ever closer to the 60 votes needed to end the Democrat shutdown. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has joined Senate Democrats on other votes to keep the government shutdown going, voted in favor of the bill.
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