Congress may finally have some skin in the game.
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution Thursday that would stop senators from receiving paychecks during future government shutdowns — an effort Republicans say could force lawmakers to take budget fights more seriously after repeated shutdown chaos battered federal workers and travelers alike.
The measure, spearheaded by John Kennedy, would direct the secretary of the Senate to withhold senators’ salaries whenever the federal government shuts down.
Instead of continuing to collect pay while Washington spirals into dysfunction, senators’ checks would effectively be locked in escrow until lawmakers reach a deal to reopen the government.
Once the shutdown ends, the pay resumes.
Kennedy argued the move was about imposing the same consequences on lawmakers that ordinary federal workers have repeatedly endured during recent shutdown crises.
“Last October, we shut down the government for 43 days. That is the longest shutdown in history,” Kennedy said on the Senate floor.
“And we had FBI agents, national park rangers, CDC scientists, our staff here in Congress — nobody was getting paid,” he added.
The Louisiana Republican blasted Congress for allowing two major shutdowns within a single year.
“Three months later, after we finally got out of that 43-day shutdown, we shut down the Department of Homeland Security. It was shut down for 76 days,” Kennedy said.
“We ought to hide our heads in a bag. It’s got to stop.”
The shutdowns created major disruptions across the country, especially at airports, where unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers faced mounting financial strain while still being expected to report to work.
Long security lines, staffing shortages, and mounting public frustration became recurring symbols of Washington dysfunction.
Under current law, lawmakers continue receiving their salaries even during shutdowns because congressional pay is protected under the Constitution’s 27th Amendment, which prevents changes to congressional compensation from taking effect until after an election.
Kennedy’s resolution attempts to sidestep that issue by delaying — rather than permanently eliminating — senators’ pay.
Notably, the measure only applies to senators, not members of the House.
Still, supporters say the unanimous vote sends a powerful political message after years of voter anger over brinkmanship in Washington.
Whether it actually deters future shutdowns remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, senators may now have to personally feel the financial pressure they’ve imposed on everyone else.
🚨 JUST IN — IT’S OFFICIAL: The U.S. Senate has BARRED members from receiving paychecks when the government shuts down
The ONLY useful thing the Senate has done in a long time.
I’m genuinely surprised! pic.twitter.com/XuvPvUkiPM
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 14, 2026
