Democrats float immediately paying feds working through shutdown as Congress again rejects bill to reopen government

Sentinel

As the government shutdown continues, some Senate Democrats are advocating for immediate pay for essential civilian federal employees, such as air traffic controllers and public safety personnel, in addition to military members. While a bipartisan bill to pay military and some Defense Department civilians is supported by many House Democrats, some Senate Democrats want to extend this to a broader group of federal workers. However, not all Democrats agree, with some prioritizing military pay only and others emphasizing the need to reopen the government to pay everyone.