BREAKING: U.S. lawmakers are taking urgent action to address the ongoing government shutdown, which has now reached a record-breaking duration since the closure began on October 1, 2023. To make the consequences of this shutdown equally painful for Congress as they are for federal workers, several bills have been introduced to cut lawmakers’ pay during this crisis.
As hundreds of thousands of federal employees face furloughs without pay, members of Congress continue to receive their full salaries, prompting frustration among their constituents. Senator John Kennedy, R-La., has unveiled the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, which would decrease congressional salaries for every day spent in a shutdown. This measure aims to hold lawmakers accountable for their inaction.
In a similar vein, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., proposed a constitutional amendment that would entirely suspend pay for Congress during any shutdown, redirecting those funds to the U.S. Treasury to help address the national debt. “If Members of Congress had to forfeit their pay during government shutdowns, there would be fewer shutdowns and they would end quicker,” Graham stated.
In the House, Representative Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, is leading the charge with his No Work, No Pay Act of 2025. Alongside him, Representative Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Representative Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., have their own proposals aimed at ensuring lawmakers receive no compensation for the duration of the shutdown. Currently, most members of Congress earn an annual salary of $174,000, meaning they stand to lose significant income should these bills pass.
Additionally, Representative Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., has introduced the Government Shutdown Salary Suspension Act, which would also halt pay for the president and vice president during shutdowns.
As the situation develops, frustration is rising within the executive branch as well. President Donald Trump expressed his impatience with Congress, stating in a recent social media post, “Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” His remarks come as the shutdown begins to impact critical federal programs, including SNAP, heightening the urgency for resolution.
Negotiations thus far have yielded little progress, with both Democratic and Republican leaders seemingly engaged in a standoff. Democrats are insisting that any funding deal must extend the pandemic-era expansion of the Obamacare Premium Tax Credit before it expires on December 31, 2023. Republicans accuse their Democratic counterparts of “holding the government hostage” over these demands.
Despite the deadlock, there are bipartisan efforts emerging to prevent future shutdowns. Representatives Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., and Scott Peters, D-Calif., have introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act, which seeks to withhold lawmakers’ salaries during lapses in appropriations. “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,” Huizenga emphasized.
As the government shutdown continues with no end in sight, the proposed legislation to cut pay for lawmakers adds a new layer of accountability to the ongoing crisis. These developments are crucial for the thousands of federal workers and families affected. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this urgent situation.
