Senate fails to start debate on the Shutdown Fairness Act
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 3012
OCT 23, 2025 · 12:38 PM ET
Party-line vote, except 3 Democrats and 1 Republican who crossed. 6 votes short of the 60 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →What the Senate was voting on
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on taking up S. 3012. The bill would provide funds to pay federal employees who work during a government shutdown. Cloture was rejected, falling 6 votes short of the 60 needed.
End debate on whether to take up S. 3012, so the Senate can move to it.
Keep debating whether to take up S. 3012; this is not a vote against the bill itself.
Provides funds to pay federal workers required to work during a funding lapse, along with certain contractors and active-duty service members.
In committee in the Senate since Oct. 15, 2025, 363 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
Party line, with 3 Democrats and 1 Republican crossing3 Democrats and 1 Republican crossed. It wasn’t enough.
Every vote on S. 3012, in both chambersEvery vote on S. 3012
- OCT 21Cloture motion filedFILED
- OCT 23Cloture motion filedFILED
- OCT 23#585THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED54–456 votes short of the 60 needed.
- NOV 7Cloture motion filedFILED
- NOV 7#609Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED53–43
