Senate Democrats Propose Immediate Pay, Financial Protections for Federal Workers Amid Extended Shutdown

The ongoing government shutdown in 2025 has led to bipartisan efforts to ensure timely pay for federal employees, particularly military personnel, Defense Department civilians, contractors, and Coast Guard staff. Despite seven Senate rejections of a stopgap funding bill and continued negotiation stalemates, nearly 80 House Democrats have urged Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 5401) to a vote, aiming to protect pay schedules. Senate Democrats advocate extending pay protections beyond the military to include other essential workers like first responders and air traffic controllers, with proposals for funding such measures through targeted taxes on billionaires. Meanwhile, legislation like the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act, introduced by Senators including Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Brian Schatz, and Catherine Cortez Masto, seeks to shield federal workers and contractors from financial hardships such as foreclosures, evictions, loan defaults, and loss of health insurance during and shortly after the shutdown. These measures highlight the growing concern over the shutdown's impact on federal employees and their families, emphasizing the urgency for a bipartisan resolution to reopen the government and secure worker protections.