Senators Push for Pay Cuts Amid Government Shutdown
As the government shutdown stretches into its 35th day, some Republican senators are proposing that members of Congress should not receive pay while federal workers, including air traffic controllers and other employees, go without wages.
It’s quite a situation. Federal employees are either unpaid or receiving partial paychecks, yet Congress members are constitutionally guaranteed their salary, even during a shutdown. This has raised concerns among some lawmakers who are contemplating bills to suspend their paychecks.
Senate Republicans Consider Long-Term Funding Solution
Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana is taking action, introducing two bills aimed at suspending payments to lawmakers during this shutdown. He emphasized that Congress should share the burden felt by those who are not getting paid. “If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve to be paid,” he stated in a recent announcement.
The first bill, named the “Politician Shutdown Salary Payment Act,” would mean that lawmakers would receive no pay for every day the shutdown continues. With Congress members earning an average yearly salary of $174,000, this could have a significant impact.
Legal Challenges to Pay Cuts
However, Kennedy’s approach bumps against constitutional constraints. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution outlines that Congress members must have their salaries set by law and paid from the federal Treasury. Additionally, the 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, prohibits changes to congressional salaries during the current term.
This is where Kennedy’s second bill comes in, which would technically keep lawmakers’ paychecks intact but place them in escrow until after the elections in November 2026, circumventing the 27th Amendment.
Growing Sentiment Against Congressional Pay During the Shutdown
This sentiment against Congress receiving pay is gaining traction. The proposed legislation has recently passed in the House, with Rep. Brian Still from Wisconsin stating it is unjust for members of Congress to be paid while military and essential workers continue their duties without compensation.
Other similar initiatives are emerging, such as one introduced by Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, which would impose a daily increasing tax on senators during the shutdown. Additionally, a proposed constitutional amendment by Senator Lindsey Graham seeks to eliminate members’ salaries to help reduce national debt; this would require significant legislative effort to achieve.
In a chaotic political landscape, the debate over congressional pay amid government shutdowns raises many questions about fairness and accountability.
