Senate Fails to Pass Bills to Compensate Federal Workers Amid Shutdown

WASHINGTON — Senators failed to pass separate bills on Thursday aimed at compensating federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown, leaving many employees anticipating missed paychecks this week.

The Republicans’ “Shutdown Fairness Act,” led by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), was voted down 54-45, as Democrats criticized it for lacking protections for furloughed employees. This vote occurred amidst a protracted impasse between the two parties over government funding.

Johnson’s bill sought to provide immediate pay for excepted employees who continue to work during the shutdown. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) labeled the legislation as a “ruse” to give President Donald Trump undue authority over federal employee pay. He stated, “We will not give Donald Trump a license to play politics with people’s livelihoods.”

In contrast, two Democratic proposals aimed to extend pay to both furloughed and excepted employees, along with military members and federal contractors. These measures were also rejected by Republican senators.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) expressed concerns that Johnson’s act could empower the Trump administration to decide who to pay and who to furlough. “It’s not just about pay; it’s about who remains employed,” Van Hollen said.

Despite the setback, Sen. Johnson remains optimistic about reaching a bipartisan solution soon. “I’m actually quite hopeful — I think we can fix it over the weekend,” he said, indicating a willingness to negotiate on including furloughed workers in any agreement.

Many federal employees are expected to miss their first full paycheck since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. Although a 2019 law guarantees retroactive pay for federal employees after a shutdown ends, uncertainty remains regarding furloughed workers’ compensation.

Dave Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, remarked, “Clearly, we want people to get paid, but quite honestly, what we want is the shutdown to end.”

As the Senate debates potential solutions, essential services may soon face funding shortages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned air traffic controllers that missing their paychecks could affect their ability to perform their duties effectively.