Senate rejects Republican-led bid to pay troops, federal workers amid shutdown
By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA STARS AND STRIPES •
October 23, 2025 The Senate on Thursday failed to proceed with legislation to pay troops and Department of Defense civilians who continue to work without pay during the government shutdown as Democrats and Republicans remained in a standoff over federal funding. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON —
The Senate on Thursday failed to proceed with legislation to keep paychecks flowing to troops and pay Department of Defense civilians working without compensation during the government shutdown as Democrats and Republicans remained in a standoff over federal funding. The measure would have compensated “excepted” government employees for the duration of the shutdown, but Democrats opposed it in a 54-45 vote that failed to reach a 60-vote threshold, arguing the bill would give President Donald Trump wide latitude to pick and choose who to pay based on his political agenda. Three Democrats supported the Republican plan: Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Most Democrats have instead rallied behind an alternative bill that would pay all workers as the shutdown drags on, including those who have been furloughed, as well as prevent the administration’s efforts to fire workers while the government is shut down. An attempt Thursday to pass the proposal with a unanimous voice vote was blocked by Republicans.
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https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-10-23/senate-rejects-pay-troops-workers-shutdown-19520184.htmlSource - Stars and Stripes
