WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected a bill aimed at restoring paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers amid the longest government shutdown in American history, deepening the partisan divide that has paralyzed much of the federal government since October 1.
The measure, which sought to resume payments for furloughed employees, garnered 53 yes votes against 43 no votes in the Republican-controlled chamber but fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules. Most Democrats opposed the legislation, arguing it granted excessive discretion to President Donald Trump, who has selectively authorized pay for military troops and immigration officers while withholding it from others.
Three Democratic senators crossed party lines to support the bill: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico. Their votes highlighted rare bipartisan flickers in an otherwise entrenched standoff, but they were not enough to push the proposal forward.
Labor unions representing federal workers had lobbied intensely for the bill's passage, emphasizing the mounting hardships faced by employees and their families. Everett Kelley, head of the American Federation of Government Employees, wrote in a letter to senators that "every missed paycheck deepens the financial hole in which federal workers and their families find themselves." His statement underscored the human cost of the shutdown, which has left about 750,000 federal employees furloughed and thousands more working without pay.
Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan voiced strong objections, stating that the bill provided too much leeway for Trump to decide which workers receive pay. "It gave too much discretion for Trump to withhold pay for some federal workers," Peters said, reflecting broader Democratic concerns that the measure could empower the president amid ongoing negotiations.
The rejection came as no surprise given the persistent impasse between Democrats and Republicans over reopening the government. Democrats insist that any funding bill must include provisions to extend healthcare subsidies for approximately 24 million Americans, set to expire at year's end. Republicans, on the other hand, argue that Congress should prioritize passing a clean funding bill to restart government operations before addressing other issues.
This shutdown is going to last a long time. What's going to get us out of it?" asked Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana following the failed vote, expressing frustration over the lack of progress.
In response, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut pointed the finger at Republicans, saying, "There's only one story here, which is that they (Republicans) will not sit down leader to leader to try to solve this." His comments illustrated the mutual accusations flying between the parties, with each side blaming the other for prolonging the crisis.
The shutdown, now in its third month, has rippled through various sectors, shutting off food assistance and Head Start subsidies for millions of Americans, including vulnerable children. A looming escalation involves major U.S. airports, where officials anticipate reductions in airline flights due to unpaid air-traffic controllers. This development could disrupt travel nationwide, adding another layer of urgency to the negotiations.
Some Senate Republicans have proposed a compromise to temporarily reopen federal agencies while funding certain programs through the full fiscal year, which began on October 1. Democrats countered on Friday with their own plan, which would extend the expiring healthcare subsidies for an additional year and establish a bipartisan committee to examine long-term health reforms. However, neither proposal appears poised to secure the necessary 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate, leaving the path forward uncertain.
President Trump has remained a central figure in the drama, having initiated the shutdown by refusing to sign funding bills without concessions on his priorities. His decision to pay select groups like military personnel has drawn criticism from Democrats, who view it as a tactic to divide workers and pressure Congress. Republicans, meanwhile, defend the president's stance as necessary to address border security and other issues tied to the funding debate.
The broader context of this shutdown traces back to longstanding partisan battles over federal spending and policy riders. Historically, government shutdowns have occurred when Congress and the White House fail to agree on appropriations, with the longest previous one lasting 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 under the same president. This current impasse, surpassing that record, has affected everything from national parks to scientific research, with federal workers bearing the brunt of the fallout.
Experts and union leaders warn that prolonged unpaid work could lead to staffing shortages in critical areas, such as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. With air-traffic controllers potentially calling in sick or seeking other employment, the risk of flight delays or cancellations grows, potentially impacting the economy. Food assistance programs like SNAP have also been strained, leaving low-income families without vital support during the holiday season and beyond.
As the stalemate continues, both sides are exploring procedural maneuvers to force a resolution. Senate Majority Leader, though not directly quoted in recent proceedings, has indicated openness to votes on alternative bills, but bipartisan support remains elusive. The House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, has passed several measures to reopen the government, but they have stalled in the Senate.
Looking ahead, the coming days could bring intensified pressure as the effects on airports and other infrastructure become more pronounced. Lawmakers from both parties acknowledge the need for a deal, but entrenched positions on healthcare and funding priorities suggest the shutdown may persist. "We need to find a way to bridge this divide," one unnamed congressional aide told reporters, though optimism is in short supply. The rejection of the pay restoration bill serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead, with ordinary federal workers caught in the crossfire of Washington's political battles.