Congressional Democrats had raised objections to the bill not paying ‘nonessential’ federal employees who do not work during government funding lapses.
WASHINGTON—A bill to pay U.S. troops and active federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown failed to garner the support it needed to advance in an Oct. 23 vote.
The Republican-led legislation, titled the “Shutdown Fairness Act,” failed on a cloture vote of 54–45, coming short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
The vote comes as the current lapse in federal funding, which began on Oct. 1, has now stretched into the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history. There have been 12 votes to temporarily fund and reopen the government so far this shutdown, but they, too, have failed to overcome the 60-vote threshold.
Introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the Shutdown Fairness Act would cover pay for U.S. military personnel and “excepted” federal workers for the period covering the start of the shutdown through the duration of the ongoing lapse in federal funds.
“Excepted” federal workers are those deemed essential, who are directed to continue working during a lapse in government funding. Under the current laws, these federal workers can expect to continue to work without pay, receiving back pay only after the shutdown ends.
Other federal workers, who are deemed “nonessential,” are furloughed and do not continue to work during lapses in government funding. Congress passed legislation in 2019 guaranteeing back pay for furloughed government employees after a shutdown ends.
Congressional Democrats had raised objections over Johnson’s bill not covering pay for all federal workers during the shutdown.
Ahead of the Thursday vote, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced he planned to introduce a competing bill to cover pay for all federal employees, whether or not they are actively working through the shutdown.
This is a developing story and will be updated with additional details.
By Ryan Morgan
