Republican Senator Halts Progress on Democratic Proposal to Ensure Federal Worker Pay Amid Government Shutdown

On Thursday, Sen. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, a Republican, raised an objection to a proposal by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland. Van Hollen sought to have the Senate swiftly approve a bill aimed at ensuring that all federal employees, military personnel, and federal contractors receive pay during the government shutdown expected in 2025.

The proposed legislation, known as the True Shutdown Fairness Act, also aims to stop the Trump administration from executing widespread layoffs of federal employees during the shutdown, a process often referred to as reductions in force.

Van Hollen made his request just before the Senate was poised to vote on a separate initiative by Sen. Johnson. Johnson’s bill is designed to guarantee salaries for active-duty military members and other federal workers required to work throughout the shutdown.

Addressing the Senate, Van Hollen emphasized that the most effective way to support federal workers is to resume government operations. He criticized House Republicans for being absent and on an elongated recess amidst the ongoing shutdown.

“It’s unjust to penalize federal employees for circumstances beyond their control. They bear no responsibility for the situation—they’re merely caught in the crossfire,” Van Hollen stated.

Johnson noted there was a lot of overlap between Van Hollen’s bill and his own Shutdown Fairness Act.

He suggested Van Hollen support the procedural motion to allow the Senate to proceed to his own bill, so it could be debated and amended and perhaps even passed on the Senate floor.

Johnson said simply approving Van Hollen’s bill by unanimous consent without review and debate would not be the right approach.

“Passing it by unanimous consent is not the way to get it done,” he said.