The Senate on Thursday moved to bar senators from being paid during government shutdowns.
Pushed by Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy, the measure took on renewed significance in the wake of two history-making shutdowns in recent months: A 43-day federal government shutdown in 2025 and a record-breaking 76-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
The measure does not need approval from the House nor the president and is binding for senators beginning in November after the midterm elections.
Senators approved the resolution by voice vote, despite some questions as to whether it was constitutional. The Constitution only states that lawmakers are to be paid from the Treasury, with no exceptions mentioned.
But Kennedy has maintained the resolution is not unconstitutional and didn’t expect any challenges from his colleagues on those grounds.
