The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to withhold senators’ salaries during future government shutdowns, according to CBS News. The move comes after two prolonged funding lapses in the past year that disrupted federal operations and delayed paychecks for government workers.
The resolution, introduced by John Kennedy, directs the Senate secretary to block pay for senators whenever funding expires for one or more federal agencies. Salaries would be released once the shutdown ends.
🚨 JUST IN — IT’S OFFICIAL: The U.S. Senate has BARRED members from receiving paychecks when the government shuts down
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 14, 2026
The ONLY useful thing the Senate has done in a long time.
I’m genuinely surprised! pic.twitter.com/XuvPvUkiPM
Kennedy described the measure as a form of “shared sacrifice,” arguing lawmakers should face consequences similar to federal employees affected during shutdowns.
According to the report, the Senate earlier voted 99-0 to advance the proposal before adopting it by unanimous consent.
The measure will only take effect after the November elections because of the U.S. Constitution’s 27th Amendment, which bars immediate changes to congressional pay.
Kennedy said repeated shutdowns have damaged public trust and warned against allowing partisan gridlock to become routine governance.
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