By — Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senators-vote-to-withhold-their-own-pay-during-future-government-shutdowns Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senators vote to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns Politics May 14, 2026 12:30 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to withhold their pay during government shutdowns, an attempt to make federal closures financially painful for lawmakers after a string of record-breaking impasses in the past year. The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Under the resolution, senators' pay would be withheld by the secretary of the Senate whenever a government shutdown affects one or more agencies. It would be released once funding is restored. "Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences," said Sen. John Kennedy, the bill's sponsor, in a floor speech Wednesday. "This is about putting our money where our mouth is," said Kennedy, R-La. READ MORE: Trump signs Homeland Security funding bill, ending record shutdown A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to withhold their pay during government shutdowns, an attempt to make federal closures financially painful for lawmakers after a string of record-breaking impasses in the past year. The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Under the resolution, senators' pay would be withheld by the secretary of the Senate whenever a government shutdown affects one or more agencies. It would be released once funding is restored. "Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences," said Sen. John Kennedy, the bill's sponsor, in a floor speech Wednesday. "This is about putting our money where our mouth is," said Kennedy, R-La. READ MORE: Trump signs Homeland Security funding bill, ending record shutdown A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now