Senate rejects two bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown

WASHINGTON — Hours before hundreds of thousands of federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck due to the federal government shutdown , the U.S. Senate rejected two bills that would have paid federal workers, as the stalemate in Congress continues.

Republicans objected to the Democrat-backed proposal that would have paid all federal employees, including those deemed essential and others who have been furloughed. The measure would have provided a paycheck for service members and federal contractors. Maryland Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who proposed the bill, says the True Shutdown Fairness Act was also an effort to prevent the Trump administration from attempting additional mass firings during the government shutdown.

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