General redwhiteproud October 24, 2025 0 Comments

Senate Democrats Block Bill to Pay Military Personnel During Ongoing Shutdown

Washington, D.C. — October 24, 2025

The Senate on Thursday rejected a Republican-backed bill that would have reallocated funds to pay U.S. military personnel and other essential federal workers amid the ongoing government shutdown, deepening the standoff between the two parties.

The measure, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act, failed by a vote of 54–45, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Most Democrats voted against the bill, arguing that it would selectively reopen parts of the government and reduce their leverage in broader funding negotiations.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑S.D.) switched his vote to “no” before the close of voting to preserve the option of bringing the bill back for reconsideration.

The defeat comes after Republicans earlier blocked a Democratic proposal that would have funded all federal workers—including members of the military and contractors—while preventing President Donald Trump from ordering mass layoffs during the shutdown.

Political Tensions Mount

The question of military pay has become one of the most emotionally charged issues of the shutdown, now in its fourth week. The impasse began in early October over disputes on spending priorities and border security, making it the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history, behind the 35-day lapse in 2018–2019.

Public frustration mounted after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑La.) faced criticism from a military spouse during a live C‑SPAN call, accusing him of putting partisan politics ahead of service members’ pay. Days later, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D‑N.Y.) said he would support a full funding bill if brought to a vote, while Trump vowed to ensure military families are paid during the shutdown.

Republicans framed Thursday’s vote as a test of priorities. “It’s going to be hard for Democrats who know that paying these employees would substantially restart government operations,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R‑Okla.) ahead of the vote.

Divided Vote Among Democrats

Only three Senate Democrats—John Fetterman (Pa.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), and Raphael Warnock (Ga.)—broke ranks to support the measure.

All other Democratic senators, along with independents Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Angus King (Maine), voted against the bill.

Democratic leaders argued that the proposal amounted to “piecemeal governing” and would ease pressure on Republicans to negotiate a comprehensive funding package.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Military Pay and Benefits

While active-duty troops are directly affected by the funding lapse, military retirees continue to receive their pay, as it is classified as mandatory spending. However, retirees from the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could see interruptions if new funding is not approved, according to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

MOAA urged Congress to “break the cycle of budget brinkmanship” and pass stable, long-term funding to protect service members and their families from future uncertainty.