Hickenlooper Statement on Vote to Pay Federal Employees

Yesterday, Senate Republicans blocked Democrats' efforts to pay federal employees, bar illegal mass layoffs amid Republicans' government shutdown

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked Democrats' efforts to pay federal employees and prevent the White House from illegally conducting mass layoffs of federal employees amid the Republicans' government shutdown.

"Republicans closed the federal government instead of protecting Americans' health care. Yesterday, they refused to pay dedicated federal workers and to stop the White House from leveraging the shutdown to push their extreme Project 2025 agenda and fire federal employees.

"Their senseless political games put real lives at risk."

By this weekend, most federal workers will have missed their first full paycheck since Republicans shut down the federal government.

Despite Republicans' control of the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, they have refused to negotiate with Democrats to fund the government and address Republicans' health care crisis. Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for his huge tax cuts to the richest Americans. These cuts will lead to 15 million Americans - and 241,000 Coloradans - losing their health care. In 2026, health insurance premiums across the country are also expected to double unless Republicans work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits.

Hickenlooper recently hosted a virtual conversation with five Coloradans to highlight how the Republicans' budget bill will jeopardize Coloradans' health care coverage and lead to skyrocketing costs. Hickenlooper also gave a speech on the Senate floor, condemning the health crisis Republicans caused when they passed their budget bill.

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