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“I think it’s time that instead of closing the government down further, we begin to open up government,” Paul said. “What I will offer is legislation that, instead of closing government down further, begins to pay those who are working — pays our soldiers, pays our air traffic controllers, pays everyone who’s showing up for work.”
Paul proposed his own measure, the “Shutdown Prevention and Pay Workers Act,” which would guarantee pay for essential federal workers — including the military — during any future shutdowns. He argued that this would permanently solve the recurring crisis of unpaid federal employees whenever Congress fails to agree on spending.
Kennedy pushed back, saying Paul’s plan, while admirable, had no realistic chance of becoming law. “I’m interested in passing something. I’m not interested in just putting on a show,” Kennedy said, emphasizing that his bill could clear both chambers and reach President Trump’s desk. He claimed Paul’s version “will be as dead as fried chicken here in a few days.”
Paul fired back, insisting the President would likely sign his version and accusing Democrats of holding unreasonable positions. “I think it’s actually not clear at all that the President wouldn’t sign a bill to continue paying federal workers,” Paul said. “It’s a universal sentiment among both parties — among the American people, particularly among the soldiers — that we ought to continue to pay the soldiers, continue to pay the workers.”
He went further, blasting Democrats for prioritizing expanded Obamacare subsidies over helping working Americans. “It’s an untenable position of Democrats to come before this body and say, ‘Oh, we want to give subsidies to people who make $225,000 a year,’” Paul said. “Meanwhile, people who make $20,000 and are on food stamps are not going to get food stamps.”
Kennedy, however, refused to withdraw or amend his bill, insisting that Congress must lead by example and share the burden of the shutdown. When Paul formally objected, the measure was blocked.
Not giving up, Kennedy quickly introduced a second, slightly modified bill — the “Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act” — which would temporarily escrow congressional salaries until the government reopened. But once again, Paul objected, holding firm to his principle that the solution is not to dock lawmakers’ pay but to guarantee payment for federal workers.
The clash between the two Republican senators underscores a growing divide within the GOP over how to handle shutdown politics. Kennedy’s populist approach sought to make Congress feel the same pressure as average Americans, while Paul focused on protecting those already working without pay.
Both men framed their efforts as common sense — yet neither plan advanced, leaving Washington in a familiar stalemate.
As Kennedy put it bluntly, his frustration with Paul’s objection boiled down to one thing: “I’m interested in passing something.”
And with Paul responding, “I think it’s time we begin to open up government,” the Senate left Americans with the same question they always face during a shutdown: Who will finally put the people first?
