The Senate is set to vote on advancing a measure to pay federal employees. What is it, and will it end the shutdown? What to know.

"If Democrats vote for a 12th time to keep the government shut down, they should at least vote to pay those who are still working," Johnson wrote on X. "It’s common sense and common courtesy — there’s no excuse to oppose the Shutdown Fairness Act."

The Senate is voting Wednesday on legislation sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) that would pay “excepted” employees, or federal workers who have to stay at work in spite of the funding lapse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, following Trump's lunch with Republican senators at the White House, said the president is "prepared to sit down" with Democrats to talk about healthcare (specifically Obamacare subsidies) but only once the government shutdown ends.

Oregon, held the Senate floor for more than 22 hours to protest President Donald Trump and the government closure.

The Senate again voted down the House-passed funding bill to reopen the federal government Wednesday. The 12th vote on the legislation failed 54-46. It followed a 22-hour speech from Sen. Jeff

The ongoing government shutdown is breaking milestones as Democrats and Republicans are still far apart on federal spending.