Senate Democrats block GOP-led bill to pay federal workers as shutdown stalemate deepens

The U.S. Senate on November 7 rejected a Republican-led bill that would have resumed paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The measure failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance, with a final tally of 53–43.

Three Democrats voted with Republicans in support. Most Democrats opposed the bill, arguing it gave excessive discretion to President Donald Trump, who has opted to pay military troops and immigration officers during the shutdown while threatening to withhold pay for other workers.

The shutdown, now the longest on record, is expected to continue into next week, affecting millions of Americans with flight disruptions and uncertainty over key federal aid programs.