WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved a resolution from John Kennedy that would withhold senators’ pay during future federal government shutdowns, following months of debate over congressional compensation during lapses in government funding.
The resolution, introduced by Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, passed by voice vote and is scheduled to take effect after the November midterm elections.
“This is about shared sacrifice. If senators are going to vote to shut down the government and prevent millions of federal workers from getting paid, they ought to have the same skin in the game. My resolution will ensure that senators aren’t the only people receiving their paychecks during a government shutdown,” Kennedy said in a statement.
The measure follows a series of full and partial federal government shutdowns that lasted a combined 119 days between Oct. 1, 2025, and May 1, 2026. During that period, members of Congress continued receiving salaries while many federal employees experienced delayed paychecks.
Kennedy first introduced versions of the proposal in November 2025 during a 43-day full government shutdown. The resolution later received unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration in December 2025.
In March, Kennedy sought unanimous consent to pass the measure during a shutdown involving the Department of Homeland Security, but Brian Schatz objected, preventing immediate approval.
Earlier this week, the Senate voted 99-0 to invoke cloture on the resolution, clearing the way for final passage.