Effort to pay at least some federal workers fails in Senate

Effort to pay at least some federal workers fails in Senate

Sam Gringlas

October 23, 2025 / 11:47 am

The Senate has failed to advance a pair of competing measures to pay at least some federal employees during the government shutdown, a day before more than a million workers are set to miss a paycheck.

One of the failed bills was a Republican-backed measure to allow employees who are deemed essential to receive a paycheck during a shutdown. Those workers, including troops, TSA agents and federal law enforcement like the Capitol Police , are currently working without pay.

An alternate version introduced by Democrats called for paying all federal employees – and blocking more mass layoffs by the Trump Administration's Office of Management and Budget during the shutdown.

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