Senate Unanimously Approves Withholding Senators' Pay During Shutdowns

WASHINGTON — The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday to withhold senators' pay during any lapse in funding for federal agencies, after two extended shutdowns in recent months battered federal workers.

GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana spearheaded the resolution. It instructs the Senate secretary to halt senators' pay when appropriations lapse for one or more federal agencies or departments. The pay would resume once the shutdown ends.

Senators approved the measure by unanimous consent Thursday. Earlier this week, they voted 99-0 to advance it.

Kennedy described it as "shared sacrifice," noting that federal employees typically forgo pay during shutdowns.

Last year, the government shut down for 43 days while Democrats in Congress protested the end of healthcare subsidies. Months later, the Department of Homeland Security closed amid a congressional stalemate over immigration enforcement reforms. That shutdown lasted 76 days and ended late last month.

"We ought to hide our heads in a bag," Kennedy said on the Senate floor, citing the shutdown history. "It's got to stop. Shutting down government — it should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences."

The resolution covers only the Senate and takes effect after November's election.

Kennedy said he would enact it immediately if possible. He expressed concern that "my Senate colleagues on the Democratic side are going to try to shut down government yet again right before the elections."

The 27th Amendment bars any change to members' pay from starting before the next election.

The Louisiana Republican said the resolution won't "stop all shutdowns," but "maybe this will help."