WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bid Thursday to pay some federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.
The bill failed to clear the 60-vote legislative filibuster, 54-45, with only three Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) — breaking ranks in backing the measure.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) rolled out the Shutdown Fairness Act last week to guarantee checks for active-duty military and “excepted employees” who have been forced to work without pay during the government shutdown.
“We are forcing about 2.8 million federal workers to work. Military, law enforcement, people who write Social Security checks, air traffic controllers, keeping our skies safe,” Johnson said in a floor speech ahead of the vote.
“We’re not paying them. That’s absurd. Now, what’s even more absurd is they will get paid, whether they’re working or furloughed.”
“Excepted” federal workers refers to essential personnel as determined by the indpendent Office of Personnel Management.
Under the Government Fair Treatment Act of 2019, federal workers are required to get back pay after the conclusion of a government shutdown, leading Johnson to argue that his measure would not cost taxpayers extra.
Earlier this month, the administration redirected unspent Pentagon research and development money to pay active-duty service members Oct. 15. It is unclear whether a similar measure will be used to meet the next paycheck date Oct. 31.
