Senate Advances Resolution to Withhold Lawmaker Pay During Government Shutdowns

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously advanced a resolution to withhold pay from senators during any future government shutdowns, marking the first concrete step toward imposing financial consequences on lawmakers for closures that have become more frequent.

In a 99-0 procedural vote, the chamber moved forward the measure introduced by a Republican senator from Louisiana. One senator, a Republican from Nebraska, did not vote. The resolution now heads toward final passage, where it is expected to win broad support.

The legislation would instruct the secretary of the Senate to hold senators' paychecks for the duration of a shutdown, releasing them only after the government reopens. A rank-and-file senator earns $174,000 per year. It applies only to the Senate and would not take effect until after the November 2026 elections.

The measure comes after a 43-day government shutdown late last year triggered by disagreements over Affordable Care Act subsidies. Approximately 670,000 federal workers were furloughed during that closure while 60,000 non-federal workers lost their jobs and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients lost benefits.

A subsequent 76-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security left Transportation Security Administration agents, Coast Guard members and other employees without pay amid disputes over immigration enforcement funding and oversight reforms.

In both cases lawmakers continued to receive salaries, drawing attention to the disparity. " He expressed concern that senators from the opposing party might attempt another shutdown before the midterm elections to create political pressure.

and Lingering Doubts Senate Minority

Leader from New York backed the resolution and said he would vote for it. He added that opposing the measure while federal workers go without pay would be difficult to defend. The sponsor noted that if he could make the change effective immediately he would do so. Similar bills have been introduced in the House but it remains unclear whether any will advance there.

The resolution is not the only response to repeated shutdown threats. One senator from Wisconsin has proposed the Shutdown Fairness Act to guarantee pay for working federal employees during closures. Another senator from Oklahoma has introduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, which would automatically continue funding for two-week periods until Congress reaches agreement.

In the president's second term, Congress has approached the brink of closure four times. Shutdowns, once rare, have been used repeatedly as a negotiating tool over the last year and a half. >"Take your brain with you, because this is about shared sacrifice.

" — Sen. John Kennedy, May 13, 2026 (ABC News) The resolution directs the secretary of the Senate to withhold all senators' pay, including leadership salaries that exceed $193,000 per year, until funding legislation is enacted.