As a federal shutdown hit Day 23, the U.S. Senate couldn’t advance a Republican-backed measure to pay federal employees, military members and contractors who have continued to work.

The bill, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act, needed Democratic support to get past a 60-vote filibuster hurdle. Instead, the vote was 54 to 45, with support from three Democrats.

Both of West Virginia’s senators, Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, had concluded the pay legislation would not move forward even before the vote occurred.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” said Capito, a Republican, on MetroNews Talkline.

Capito has consistently expressed support for a continuing resolution to open the government through November.

Democrats want a reversal of changes to Medicaid from the Big Beautiful Bi

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