An article summarized by The Hill:
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously to advance a resolution from John Kennedy that would suspend senators’ pay during future government shutdowns. Under the proposal, lawmakers would not permanently lose their salaries, but their paychecks would be withheld and placed into an escrow account until the government reopens. Supporters say the measure is intended to create stronger incentives for Congress to avoid shutdowns caused by funding disputes.
The resolution only applies to senators and does not require approval from the House or President Trump. However, because of the Constitution’s 27th Amendment, which prevents Congress from immediately changing its own pay, the measure would not take effect until after the upcoming midterm elections. That means it would not apply to a potential government shutdown later this year, which some Republicans believe is increasingly possible amid tensions between Trump and Senate Democrats.
Lawmakers backed the proposal following several lengthy shutdowns over the past two years, including a 43-day government closure tied to healthcare subsidy disputes and a 76-day partial shutdown connected to immigration enforcement funding battles. Kennedy argued that repeated shutdowns have become unacceptable and warned against using them as political leverage. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also signaled support for the measure, helping it move forward with overwhelming bipartisan backing.
