Senate Advances Rule To Withhold Senators' Pay During Shutdowns
Senate advanced Sen. John Kennedy's resolution to hold senators' pay during shutdowns, effective after the November 2026 election, following record funding lapses that left federal workers unpaid.
Epoch TimesSenators Advance Resolution to Withhold Their Pay During Shutdowns
ABC NewsSenate advances legislation to withhold pay from senators during government shutdowns
Washington TimesSenators unanimously back measure to suspend their pay during government shutdowns
Roll CallSenators on path to forfeit paychecks during shutdowns
Overview
The Senate advanced Sen. John Kennedy's resolution to withhold senators' pay during government shutdowns on a 99-0 to 99-1 vote on May 13, according to multiple reports.
The measure follows back-to-back funding lapses, including a 43-day government-wide shutdown and a 75- to 76-day partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which left many federal workers unpaid, sources said.
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee advanced the resolution in December, though ranking member Alex Padilla warned a resolution may not carry the force of law, sources said.
If adopted, the change would apply only to the Senate and would take effect after the November 2026 election under the 27th Amendment; senators earn $174,000 and leaders over $193,000, sources said.
The measure still needs final votes and procedural steps in the Senate and could increase pressure on the House to adopt similar pay-withholding legislation, advocates and lawmakers said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally, emphasizing procedural facts, bipartisan consensus, and near-term context without partisan judgment. They report the 99-0 cloture vote, note Padilla’s procedural concern about the resolution’s legal force, and summarize recent shutdown timelines and competing House proposals, providing balanced context rather than editorializing.