Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer criticized Senate Republicans after Democrats blocked a bill that would have guaranteed pay for military and federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.
“Senate Republicans should be embarrassed by how bad they’re messaging this,” Spicer, who served as President Trump’s first press secretary, said Friday on his podcast, in remarks highlighted by The Daily Beast.
“They should have been out on the steps last night with military members and Border Patrol,” he added.
The measure, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025, was introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) but fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, with a final tally of 54-45.
The bill aimed to ensure continued pay for “excepted” federal employees, including active-duty troops, TSA agents, park rangers, air traffic controllers, and Border Patrol officers.
Spicer accused Republicans of failing to defend their position forcefully, calling their actions “literally the lamest response” he had ever seen. “The idea that they voted and bolted is an embarrassment to the Republican Party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed the bill as a “ruse,” arguing it would give Trump budget director Russell Vought undue authority.
https://www.rawstory.com/sean-spicer-2674232081/