Cast your Vote

Posted 11/05/2025

Whenever the government shuts down, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are left unpaid, uncertain, and without a definitive understanding of when their next paycheck will be issued. One group is receiving their salary without interruption as the government shutdown looms: United States senators. Whether it is appropriate for the senators to be paid during a shutdown has elicited heated discussions across the country.

In a government shutdown, non-essential services will cease because Congress has failed to enact appropriations bills or pass a continuing resolution to fund federal government activities. It is notable that the senators and representatives are not forced to face the consequences of what they have not done. Senators and representatives are compensated under Article I, Section 6 of the United States Constitution, which guarantees compensation for their work. This safeguard was originally designed to protect independence in the legislature. However, the application of this safeguard has been subject to debate concerning modern legislative accountability.

The salaries for Congress members vary, but typically most members are paid $174,000 per year. The Speaker of the House is paid $223,500 per year, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate are paid $193,400 per year. This does not include money for their staff. Americans are often outraged that federal employees, ranging from park rangers to military personnel, are denied their paychecks while those who are responsible for the stalemate continue to receive theirs. This situation often elicits criticism from the public each time politicians are at an impasse, disrupting the government and our livelihoods, while continuing to be compensated. A common sentiment around the nation was expressed by popular sports analyst, Stephen A. Smith, as he told Congress members about his disappointment with their inaction. 

There are senators that chose to forgo their pay during the government shutdown. Senator Ted Cruz wished for his pay to be withheld, though he'll receive backpay when the shutdown is over. Senator Lindsey Graham said he'd donate his salary to a South Carolina non-profit, and Andy Kim announced on social media that he wouldn't be taking a paycheck either. While legislation has been put forth to withhold congressional pay during a shutdown, it seldom ever comes to a vote, considering who has to vote.

Detractors are concerned that withholding senator paychecks could lead to hasty drafts of legislation that do not satisfactorily resolve problems or could perhaps be counterproductive. Some who support withholding pay argue that sharing in the collective burden might spur politicians into action and provide a sense of urgency for them to complete their work. Some have speculated that the government shutdown may be a tactic by Republican lawmakers to continue purging federal employees. Currently, 700,000+ government workers have been furloughed... Click Here.

Ultimately, the debate revolves around the principle of equitable treatment for government workers. If government employees can struggle and face financial uncertainty as they work through political conflicts, perhaps senators should, too.