Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a Republican-sponsored bill to pay active-duty members of the military and other essential federal employees who have been required to work during the government shutdown.

Democrats blocked the Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), in a mostly party-line 54-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to advance.

The legislation would pay employees at agencies whom agency heads determine are “excepted” from the shutdown or who are “performing emergency work,” as well as service members.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said that would have included more than 300 congressional employees, including Capitol police, who worked overnight Tuesday and Wednesday morning to keep the Senate floor open while Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)

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