Full List of Democrats Who Voted Against Paying US Military During Shutdown

A majority of Democratic senators voted against a proposal on Thursday that sought to reallocate funds to ensure U.S. military personnel and essential federal employees would continue to be paid during the ongoing government shutdown. The measure, known as the “Shutdown Fairness Act,” failed to pass, falling short with a 54–45 vote—below the 60 votes needed for approval.

This latest vote comes amid a prolonged funding standoff between Democrats and Republicans. Earlier in the week, Republicans had blocked a Democratic bill that would have provided pay to all federal workers, military members, and contractors while also limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to initiate mass layoffs during the shutdown. Before the vote concluded, Senate Majority Leader John Thune switched his vote to “no,” a procedural move that allows him to bring the bill up for reconsideration at a later time.

The debate over military pay has become a flashpoint in the broader budget impasse. At the start of October, families of service members began worrying about missing paychecks. The issue gained national attention when House Speaker Mike Johnson faced an emotional on-air exchange with a military spouse during a C-SPAN call-in segment. The caller criticized Johnson for hesitating to back a separate measure guaranteeing pay for military families.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries quickly expressed support for ensuring that military members continued to be paid, and former President Trump followed suit, pledging that service members would receive their salaries even during the shutdown.

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma remarked before the vote that agreeing to fund pay for certain federal workers would effectively weaken the Democrats’ leverage in ongoing negotiations by allowing key parts of the government to resume normal operations.

Only three Democrats—Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Raphael Warnock of Georgia—voted in favor of the bill, breaking with their party. The remaining Democrats, including prominent figures such as Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker, voted against it. Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who typically align with Democrats, also opposed the measure.

The failed vote marks the fourth week of the government shutdown, which has now become the second-longest in U.S. history, following the 35-day shutdown from late 2018 to early 2019 tied to funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

As for military retirees, they remain unaffected by the lapse in funding, since their pay comes from mandatory spending. However, retirees from the commissioned corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could see interruptions if those agencies lack new appropriations. The Military Officers Association of America urged Congress in late September to put an end to recurring budget crises by passing long-term funding bills to prevent such disruptions.

The Senate has now held 12 votes related to funding measures, with the latest receiving only 54 votes—still six short of the required 60. A new vote could occur later Thursday or Friday as lawmakers attempt to resolve the stalemate and minimize the growing impact of the shutdown on federal employees and the wider economy.

Source: Newsweek