POLITICS

Senate votes to suspend pay during shutdowns nationwide

PUBLISHED May 14, 2026, 2:24 PM ET

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Washington — The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to withhold senators' pay during federal government shutdowns, sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana and advanced by voice vote and unanimous consent this week; the secretary of the Senate will suspend pay when one or more agencies lose funding and release it once appropriations are restored. The measure, set to take effect the day after the Nov. 3 general election, does not apply to the House and is described by proponents as a step to increase accountability after recent protracted closures that created financial hardship for federal workers, notably at the Department of Homeland Security; administrative implementation is expected in coming months.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Recent year: Multiple federal shutdowns occurred, creating hardship for federal employees.
Sen. John Kennedy introduced the resolution to suspend senators' pay during shutdowns.
The measure received a preliminary 99-0 vote to move forward earlier this week.
The Senate unanimously approved the resolution Thursday by voice vote and unanimous consent.
The resolution will take effect the day after the Nov. 3 general election.

News Intelligence

This resolution could affect how quickly government shutdowns are resolved. If senators' pay is on the line, they might work harder to avoid or end shutdowns. That's good for federal employees who suffer during these periods.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 5
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 4

Who Benefited

The resolution primarily benefits taxpayers and advocates of governmental accountability by creating a financial consequence for senators during shutdowns, which may incentivize quicker resolution of funding disputes and improve perceptions of congressional responsibility.

Who Impacted

Federal employees who missed paychecks during recent shutdowns suffered immediate financial hardship, and individual senators may experience temporary earnings reductions while withheld pay is in effect, along with increased public scrutiny.

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