US Senate blocks bill to pay essential federal workers required to work during government shutdown

WASHINGTON

US Senate Democrats on Thursday voted down a Republican-backed bill that would have provided pay to active-duty service members and other essential federal workers continuing their duties during the government shutdown, which is now in its 23rd day.

By a vote of 54-45, the Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Shutdown Fairness Act, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson. It required 60 votes to move forward.

Democrats John Fetterman, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock voted in favor.

On Wednesday, the upper chamber blocked the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) for a 12th time to fund the government until Nov. 21.

The shutdown, the second-longest in US history, began Oct. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations on federal spending priorities. Thousands of federal workers have since been furloughed, or working without pay, while government services have been curtailed or suspended.