{"id":2501311,"date":"2025-10-21T07:56:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T11:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-pivots-to-federal-worker-pay-as-latest-shutdown-trial-balloon\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T08:00:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T12:00:22","slug":"thune-pivots-to-federal-worker-pay-as-latest-shutdown-trial-balloon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-pivots-to-federal-worker-pay-as-latest-shutdown-trial-balloon\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune pivots to federal worker pay as latest shutdown trial balloon"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-pivots-to-federal-worker-pay-as-latest-shutdown-trial-balloon%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2501311&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is attempting a new approach amid the ongoing government shutdown by proposing legislation to pay certain federal employees who are required to work during the shutdown. This measure, expected to be voted on soon, serves as a test of Democratic willingness to compromise, as Democrats continue to demand extensions of Obamacare subsidies as part of any funding agreement. So far, Democrats have rejected short-term funding bills multiple times, maintaining their position while Republicans, including Thune, explore narrower bills that might gain broader support.<\/p>\n<p>Thune&#8217;s strategy marks a shift from his earlier stance against piecemeal reopening of the government, as political pressure mounts from unpaid federal workers and others affected. While some Democrats, like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, have shown signs of breaking ranks, overall Democratic opposition remains firm. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House in recess, contingent on Senate Democrats passing the proposed pay bill, though he expresses skepticism about their support.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the Senate filibuster and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-gop-rivals-are-all-running-for-a-job-in-his-administration\/\" title=\"Trump claims GOP rivals are vying for positions in his administration.\">ongoing political dynamics<\/a>, Thune is balancing pressure tactics and outreach to try to break the deadlock, while framing Democratic resistance as an unwillingness to accept compromise.Both parties continue to expect the other to bear responsibility if the shutdown persists.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thune pivots to federal worker pay as latest shutdown trial balloon<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2378076\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Senate Majority Leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD), navigating the fourth week of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">government shutdown<\/a>, is not out of play calls yet as he dares Democrats to oppose a bill paying certain federal workers later this week.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation, expected to receive a vote on Wednesday or Thursday, amounts to a trial balloon meant to test Democrats&rsquo; commitment to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/obamacare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">healthcare demands<\/a> at the center of the shutdown fight.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3857844\/trump-conditions-venezuela-maduro-lindsey-graham\/\">Trump to set conditions on Venezuela&#8217;s Maduro to &#8216;take him down,&#8217; Graham says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3857811\/thune-trump-nominee-paul-ingrassia-leaked-texts\/\">Thune urges Trump to drop nominee who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-atf-nominee-david-chipman-made-racist-remarks-about-blacks-who-passed-test-to-become-agents-report\/\" title=\"Biden ATF Nominee David Chipman Made Racist Remarks About Blacks Who ... ... To Become Agents: Report\">allegedly made racist remarks<\/a> in leaked chat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3857669\/thune-house-gop-return-pass-funding-bill\/\">Thune says House GOP should return to pass new funding bill<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>They have so far rejected a &ldquo;clean,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >short-term funding bill 11 times<\/a>, with just two Democrats and one independent siding with Republicans to reopen the government. But Thune has begun to get more creative the longer the shutdown lasts, floating narrower pieces of legislation that in any other circumstance would attract broad support.<\/p>\n<p>Thune teed up a full-year Pentagon spending bill last week, an olive branch to appropriators who want to resume the appropriations process, while this week&rsquo;s measure would pay &ldquo;excepted&rdquo; federal employees, meaning those forced to work during the shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats blocked an initial vote on the defense bill previously on Thursday, and are likely to do the same on pay for federal workers as they demand that Republicans extend premium Obamacare subsidies in exchange for their support.<\/p>\n<p>The resistance has left Washington no closer to resolving a spending battle that began on Oct. 1, when all federal agencies shuttered for the first time since 2019. The votes have nonetheless applied consistent pressure on a subset of Democrats Thune views as persuadable.<\/p>\n<p>He&rsquo;s been stuck at three cross-over votes, with eight needed to overcome the Senate&rsquo;s filibuster, but dislodged a fourth &mdash; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a retiring defense hawk &mdash; when the Senate held a procedural vote on the Pentagon bill. She continues to oppose the broader government funding bill, which passed the House a month ago, on Sept. 19.<\/p>\n<p>The vote on federal worker pay marks a departure from Thune&rsquo;s earlier shutdown strategy. He initially refused to open the government in a piecemeal fashion, as Republicans viewed the political blowback to missed paychecks as something that would lead Democrats to end their blockade.<\/p>\n<p>But the White House has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3848852\/trump-gop-shutdown-leverage-military-pay-wic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blunted that leverage<\/a> by diverting unspent funds to keep troops paid and welfare programs afloat.<\/p>\n<p>There are still a litany of pressure points, including the Senate staffers who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3857230\/senate-staffers-miss-first-paycheck-hundreds-seek-loans-government-shutdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">missed their first full paycheck<\/a> on Monday, but Democrats have shown no indications they will move off their negotiating position, with rank-and-file senators surprising some Republicans who expected a similar outcome as March, when Schumer and nine other members of his caucus caved to a similar GOP funding bill.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Democrats believe they have staked their fight on strong political ground this time, using an issue such as healthcare that helped them win the midterm elections in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Thune did not wait long before shifting his shutdown strategy. His leadership team began <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/burgessev\/status\/1976329605737832924\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">weighing<\/a> whether to offer Democrats a stand-alone vote on the expiring Obamacare subsidies around a week after funding lapsed, something Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rejected as a fig leaf. A few days later came the idea of moving full-year funding bills in the midst of a government shutdown, anchored to the Pentagon funding measure.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Republicans have not abandoned their original play, forcing Democrats to vote on the House-passed funding bill almost every day the Senate has been in session this month. The measure failed again on Monday with no change in Democratic support.<\/p>\n<p>Thune&rsquo;s strategy stands in contrast to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has kept the House on recess for more than a month, effectively arguing that Republicans did their job and have nothing to discuss until Senate Democrats join them.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1980290801461555293\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Monday that he would bring the House back if the Senate passed pay for federal workers, signaling a possible shift in strategy. But he simultaneously cast doubt that Senate Democrats would give them the votes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have any faith that they&rsquo;re going to pass it,&rdquo; Johnson told CNN. &ldquo;I think they&rsquo;re going to continue to play games.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Thune, due to the Senate filibuster, has been forced to take a more nuanced approach, using a combination of political pressure and genuine outreach.<\/p>\n<p>He at one point floated full-year spending bills as a viable path to overcoming the shutdown gridlock and committed to funding agencies that Democrats consider a priority alongside the Pentagon.<\/p>\n<p>For a while, Thune also extended Democrats the courtesy of letting them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3846044\/john-thune-democrats-last-shot-government-funding-proposal\/\">vote on a dueling proposal<\/a> to reopen the government that includes their shutdown demands.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3848852\/trump-gop-shutdown-leverage-military-pay-wic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>TRUMP BLUNTS GOP&rsquo;S SHUTDOWN LEVERAGE WITH WELFARE AND MILITARY CARVEOUTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But the shutdown, by and large, has been about winning in the court of public opinion, with both sides predicting the other would be blamed for a failure to fund the government.<\/p>\n<p>Thune withdrew the courtesy of dueling votes more than a week ago and has generally framed opposition to each of his legislative pivots as evidence that Democrats won&rsquo;t &ldquo;take yes for an answer.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune shifts focus to federal worker pay amid shutdown talks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2501312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25273790037269.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[38020,65602,39629,39916,23610],"class_list":["post-2501311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-budget-negotiations","tag-federal-worker-pay","tag-government-shutdown","tag-labor-policy","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25273790037269.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501311"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501315,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501311\/revisions\/2501315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}