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(The Center Square) – As the current government shutdown reaches unprecedented lengths, U.S. lawmakers are putting forward legislation to ensure Congress feels the financial strain of shutdowns, similar to federal workers.
The shutdown commenced on October 1 after Senate Democrats blocked a funding bill passed by House Republicans, resulting in hundreds of thousands of federal employees being furloughed without pay. Many others, deemed ‘essential’ workers, such as air traffic controllers and federal law enforcement officers, are required to work without compensation.
Despite being the only group capable of resolving the shutdown, members of Congress continue to receive their regular salaries.
In a gesture of goodwill, some lawmakers have requested that the U.S. Treasury withhold their pay during the shutdown. However, others are seeking to make this practice mandatory.
In the Senate, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., has introduced the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, which would reduce the annual salaries of all congressional members by the number of days spent in a shutdown.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has proposed a similar constitutional amendment, stipulating that lawmakers would forfeit their pay during shutdowns, with the withheld funds directed to the Treasury to aid in reducing 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. “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, Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, has introduced the No Work, No Pay Act of 2025; Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., has proposed the No Pay for Disarray Act; and Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., is advocating for a constitutional amendment that would also ensure lawmakers do not receive pay as long as the shutdown persists.
As of 2025, the annual salary for most senators and representatives is $174,000, according to the Congressional Research Service. With both chambers in session for less than half the year, this means lawmakers could lose over a thousand dollars for each workday during a shutdown if such legislation is enacted.
Additionally, Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., has introduced the Government Shutdown Salary Suspension Act, which would extend the pay suspension to the president and vice president as well.
President Donald Trump is reportedly growing impatient with senators as the shutdown starts to impact vital federal programs like SNAP. He urged Republicans in a social media post on Friday to “Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!”
Negotiations regarding the shutdown have yet to yield results, with both Democratic and Republican leaders appearing to wait each other out.
Democrats are insisting that any funding agreement must extend the pandemic-era expansion of the Obamacare Premium Tax Credit, which is set to expire on December 31. Conversely, Republicans accuse Senate Democrats of “holding the government hostage.”
On a more collaborative note, Reps. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., and Scott Peters, D-Calif., have introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would also withhold lawmakers’ salaries during a funding lapse.
“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 remarked.
