URGENT UPDATE: As the government shutdown continues into its third week, U.S. lawmakers are taking decisive action to hold themselves accountable, introducing bills that would slash their pay during the impasse. The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2023, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay and many others working without compensation, including essential personnel like air traffic controllers.
In a bid to align their financial pain with that of federal employees, Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) has introduced the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act. This legislation aims to reduce congressional salaries by the number of days spent in a shutdown. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is backing a similar constitutional amendment, emphasizing that if Congress members forfeited their pay, shutdowns would be less frequent and resolved more swiftly. Graham stated,
“The U.S. Constitution requires Members of Congress to be paid, even during government shutdowns. This is the most constitutionally sound way to deal with this problem.”
In the House of Representatives, lawmakers are also stepping up. Representative Mike Kennedy (R-Utah) has proposed the No Work, No Pay Act of 2025, while Representative Angie Craig (D-Minn.) introduced the No Pay for Disarray Act. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is also advocating for a constitutional amendment ensuring lawmakers receive no pay during shutdowns. Most members of Congress currently earn $174,000 annually, meaning they could lose over $1,000 for each day spent in a shutdown if these bills pass.
Additionally, Representative Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) has taken it a step further with the Government Shutdown Salary Suspension Act, which would halt pay for the President and Vice President as well during shutdowns.
With the situation intensifying, President Donald Trump has expressed frustration, calling for Republicans to eliminate the filibuster in a recent social media post, urging them to “Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” As the government shutdown disrupts critical federal programs like SNAP, the stakes are rising.
Currently, negotiations between Democratic and Republican leaders have stalled, with both parties appearing to wait out the other. Democrats are demanding an extension of the pandemic-era expansion of the Obamacare Premium Tax Credit, set to expire on December 31, 2023. Republicans counter that Senate Democrats are “holding the government hostage.”
However, bipartisan efforts are underway to prevent future shutdowns. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) have introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would withhold lawmakers’ salaries during lapses in appropriations. Huizenga remarked,
“If Congress can’t fulfill its most basic duty to pass a budget, it shouldn’t get paid, and Members of Congress shouldn’t get back-pay either.”
As this situation evolves, all eyes are on Congress to see if these legislative efforts can introduce real consequences for lawmakers and potentially expedite the end of the shutdown. Share this urgent update to keep others informed about the latest developments impacting federal workers and Congress.
