Senators Unanimously Approve to Withhold Their Own Pay During Future Government Shutdowns
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously to suspend senators’ pay during any federal government shutdown. Their paychecks would be withheld during the shutdown and released only after the government reopens. The measure is designed to discourage prolonged funding standoffs and demonstrate “shared sacrifice” with federal workers who routinely miss paychecks during closures.
Key Details
1. What the Resolution Does
· Senators’ pay is withheld by the Secretary of the Senate whenever a shutdown affects one or more federal agencies.
· Pay is released only after funding is restored.
· Senators will still receive full back pay, similar to federal employees, once the shutdown ends.
· The policy applies only to the Senate, not the House.
2. Why It Was Introduced
· Recent shutdowns have been longer and more frequent, including a 43‑day full shutdown and a 76‑day DHS shutdown—the longest agency lapse in U.S. history.
· Lawmakers argued that Congress should face consequences when it fails to perform its basic duty of passing funding bills.
· Sponsor Sen. John Kennedy (R‑LA) called it “putting our money where our mouth is” and emphasized that shutdowns should not be a default political tactic.
3. When It Takes Effect
· The resolution takes effect after the November 2026 election, due to the 27th Amendment, which prevents changes to congressional pay from taking effect before an intervening election.
4. What Happens Next
· The measure does not require House approval or the president’s signature.
· It remains unclear whether the House will adopt a similar policy.
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