Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) objected to a request by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Thursday for the Senate to immediately consider and pass a bill to pay all federal workers, members of the military and federal contractors during the 2025 government shutdown.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act would also prevent the Trump administration from attempting mass layoffs of federal workers during the shutdown, employee restructurings known as reductions in force.

Van Hollen's request came shortly before the Senate was slated to vote on a bill from Johnson to pay active-duty members of the military and other federal employees who have been required to work during the shutdown.

The Maryland Democrat, speaking on the Senate floor, said the best way to take care of federal workers would be to reopen

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