A Republican senator is calling for members of Congress to stop receiving pay while federal workers endure the financial strain of the prolonged government shutdown.
As the shutdown stretches into its 35th day, many federal employees — including air traffic controllers — have either missed full paychecks or gone unpaid entirely. Lawmakers, however, are still constitutionally guaranteed their salaries even during a shutdown.
Some representatives and senators have voluntarily declined their pay, while others have proposed legislation to ensure Congress does not receive income during closures.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana has stepped forward with two proposals aimed at suspending congressional pay during the shutdown while also addressing constitutional barriers.
“I don’t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage or bargaining chips,” Kennedy said in a statement. “My bills ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay — our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers. If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck — plain and simple.”
One proposal, the “No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act,” would stop lawmakers from being paid for every day the government remains closed. Members of Congress typically earn $174,000 annually, though salaries are higher for those in leadership roles.
The Constitution complicates this approach. Article I, Section 6 guarantees compensation for senators and representatives, and the 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, prevents any legislation from altering congressional pay during the same term in which the law is passed.
To navigate these restrictions, Kennedy introduced a second measure: the “Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act.” Rather than eliminating pay, it would place salaries in escrow and release them only after the November 2026 elections, effectively delaying compensation without violating constitutional limits.
The House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, echoes the intent. Steil argued that if military service members, federal law enforcement, and other essential workers must perform their duties without pay, Congress should not receive paychecks either.
Kennedy’s proposals are part of a broader effort. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has introduced a bill imposing a tax penalty on lawmakers for each day the Senate remains in session during a shutdown.
Another strategy emerged last week from Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who proposed a constitutional amendment requiring lawmakers to forfeit their pay during shutdowns. Funds withheld would be redirected to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the national debt.
Adopting such an amendment would require approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states.
