Lawmakers’ Pay During Government Shutdowns

The number of politicians from both parties declaring that they will not take their salaries during ongoing government shutdowns is increasing. This comes as the federal government was shut down for nearly a week after Senate Democrats turned down Republican proposals for funding, aiming to stretch the debate until November 21st.

Representatives such as Chip Roy from Texas and Ashley Hinson from Iowa have openly expressed their desire to withhold their pay. Others, like Democrats Josh Gottheimer and Lou Correa, have joined in this sentiment.

However, those who wish to suspend their pay face a legal obstacle. Under federal law, they are entitled to compensation, as outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution, which mandates that “senators and representatives shall receive compensation for services confirmed by law and paid by the US Treasury Department.” Additionally, the 27th Amendment states that changes to lawmakers’ salaries cannot take effect until after the next election.

Interestingly, most members of Congress earn an annual salary of $174,000, a figure that hasn’t been adjusted since 2009, though congressional leaders receive more.

A source informed Fox News Digital that while Congress members can opt to temporarily forgo their pay during the shutdown, they will still collect it as backpay once the government reopens. This could be seen as an ineffective measure—kind of like, I guess, aiming to have it both ways.

On the administrative side, Rep. Joe Morell, a prominent Democrat, recently stated that it is possible for lawmakers’ checks to be deposited into separate accounts during shutdowns, which could serve as a means to manage their financial obligations in these peculiar circumstances.

Staff members in Congress, on the other hand, will see their pay affected directly during the shutdown. If their pay period coincides with the halt, they won’t be paid, yet they too will receive backpay once things are back to normal.

Some representatives, like Florida’s Ashley Moody and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, have announced intentions to donate their salaries during the closure. Moody, for example, mentioned, “The government remains closed every day. I will donate my salary to the Tampa Bay Crisis Centre, which will assist those impacted by this unfortunate situation.” So, at least some are trying to turn this into an opportunity to help others, I suppose.