Overview
- The Senate unanimously approved a rule to pause senators’ pay during any shutdown, with paychecks held until the government reopens.
- The policy applies only to the Senate and starts after the November 2026 election to comply with the 27th Amendment, which bars immediate changes to compensation.
- Rep. Mike Kennedy of Utah is pressing a No Work, No Pay bill to cover the entire Congress, saying a law would be harder to undo than a chamber rule.
- The measure defers rather than forfeits salaries, and critics question its bite because many senators are wealthy and less reliant on their congressional pay.
- Backers cite long funding lapses that left DHS and TSA workers unpaid, and sponsor Sen. John Kennedy says members should share the consequences when shutdowns occur.