WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he will introduce two bills aimed at stopping members of Congress from receiving paychecks during a government shutdown, arguing that lawmakers should share the same financial hardships faced by federal workers.
“Tomorrow, I will be bringing two bills before the Senate,” Kennedy said in floor remarks. “They both have to do with the shutdown and congressional pay.”
The first proposal, the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act, would prohibit lawmakers from being paid while the government remains closed, with no retroactive reimbursement once operations resume. The second, the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, would escrow members’ pay during a shutdown to avoid potential conflicts with the 27th Amendment, which restricts immediate changes to congressional compensation.
Kennedy said his measures are intended to hold Congress accountable as the federal government’s partial shutdown stretches into its 36th day. “None of our staff are being paid. No federal employees are being paid,” he said. “Federal workers have had to borrow $365 million so far during this 36-day shutdown in order to just pay their rent.”
The senator noted that essential workers, including military personnel and air traffic controllers, are facing pay delays, while programs such as SNAP are operating with limited funding.
“There’s precedent for this,” Kennedy said, referencing a 2013 shutdown when lawmakers lost access to their paychecks under legislation supported by then-President Barack Obama. “Members of Congress had an epiphany, and they found religion. They had a Damascene moment, and they opened up the government. And that’s all this bill will do.”
Kennedy emphasized that his intent is not political grandstanding but fairness. “I’ll offer these bills tomorrow, and people can vote yea, or they can vote nay,” he said. “But what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”