Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at withholding congressional salaries for the duration of the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its 37th day.
Speaking from the Senate floor Wednesday, the Republican lawmaker made clear his assessment of the current budget impasse. While acknowledging rumors of progress toward an agreement, Kennedy stated plainly that he believes the shutdown will continue “a while longer.”
The two bills represent different approaches to the same objective. The “No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act” would eliminate congressional pay entirely during a government shutdown, with no provision for back pay once operations resume. The “Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act” takes a more moderate approach, placing congressional salaries in escrow during the shutdown and releasing the funds once the government reopens.
Kennedy anticipated constitutional objections to his proposals. The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting congressional compensation from taking effect until after the next election of representatives. The Senator addressed this concern directly, explaining that he has offered “two different flavors of bills” precisely to navigate potential constitutional challenges.
Historical precedent supports Kennedy’s strategy. During the 2013 government shutdown, President Barack Obama endorsed similar legislation that threatened to withhold congressional paychecks if the government remained closed past a certain deadline. According to Kennedy, that approach proved effective. Members of Congress, in his words, “had an epiphany and they found religion” and promptly reopened the government.
The Louisiana Senator has been consistent in his efforts to protect federal workers during this shutdown. He previously filed legislation to ensure payment for both federal employees and military personnel during the funding lapse. Those bills were rejected. Kennedy noted that federal workers have borrowed $365 million during the 36-day shutdown simply to meet basic expenses such as rent.
Kennedy’s statement on the matter was direct and unequivocal. “If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck,” he said. He emphasized that he does not view the financial hardship of federal workers as “leverage” in budget negotiations, contrasting his position with that of certain Democratic colleagues.
The Senator referenced previous remarks by House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, who acknowledged that family suffering during shutdowns represents “one of the few leverage times we have” in budget negotiations. Kennedy characterized his legislation as ensuring that “Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay – our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers.”
Whether either bill will advance through the legislative process remains to be seen. The proposals face an uncertain path in a divided Congress, where the very budget disagreements causing the shutdown would likely complicate consideration of any shutdown-related legislation.
What is certain is that the shutdown continues, federal workers continue to struggle, and at least one senator believes that members of Congress should share in that struggle rather than collect paychecks while failing to perform their most basic constitutional duty: funding the government.
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