Government Shutdown Enters Day 23: Senate Rejects Payments for Federal Employees and Contractors

Strategic Insights -

As the US government shutdown enters its 23rd day, the Senate has failed to advance a Republican measure that would have paid federal employees and contractors who have continued to work amid the stalemate. A deadlock on federal worker pay persists, with most employees set to miss their first full paycheck on Friday or early next week. Over 42 million Americans, including 40% under the age of 17, are at risk of delayed food assistance due to a funding shortfall expected in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by November 1.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate rejected a Republican measure on a 54-45 vote, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance.
  • Democratic senators who agreed to the measure included Pennsylvania's John Fetterman and Georgia's Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota changed his vote to reconsider the measure.
  • A separate measure from Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen failed to move forward after Sen. Ron Johnson objected.
  • Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a bill to continue SNAP funding through the shutdown, which the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the administration would "absolutely support."
  • A second Democratic bill, from Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., was blocked by Johnson, objecting to language that would protect federal workers from mass Reductions in Force (RIFs).
  • Johnson said he was willing to add into his bill the provision from Van Hollen to pay furloughed workers.

Statistics:

  • Over 42 million Americans, including 40% under the age of 17, are at risk of delayed food assistance due to a funding shortfall expected in SNAP by November 1.
  • The government is on day 23 of the shutdown, with a total of 954,000 federal employees furloughed.
  • More than 50,000 TSA agents and more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have continued to work without pay during the shutdown.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says there are currently 2,132 delays within, into or out of the United States reported by Thursday afternoon.

Sources:

  • "shutdown-likely-halt-food-benefits-42-million-just-days" by [William Bredderman](https://www.newyorker.com/author/william-bredderman) (Newsfromthestates)
  • Letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from Senate Democrats
  • Bookersenate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter\_to\_release\_funding\_to\_continue\_snap\_into\_novemberp.pdf
  • Hawley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Keep-SNAP-Funded-Act.pdf
  • Senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll\_call\_votes/vote1191/vote\_119\_1\_00585.htm
  • Newsfromthestates.com/article/shutdown-likely-halt-food-benefits-42-million-just-days
  • Newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-blocks-trump-carrying-out-thousands-layoffs-during-shutdown