Senate votes to withhold pay from members during future government shutdowns

Senators will now go without pay during future government shutdowns, with the money withheld until a deal reopens the government. The Senate passed the measure unanimously.

The rule change was pushed by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. In the past year, Congress failed twice to keep the government open, once for 43 days and again for 76 days. Republicans worry Senate Democrats may try to force another shutdown before the midterms and before the new rule takes effect.

Nearly three-quarters of the Senate are millionaires, according to an analysis of financial disclosure data reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported by NOTUS. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said some members are so wealthy that their congressional salary is a rounding error compared with their investments.

"It certainly doesn't stop future shutdowns," Lankford said. "It just says, 'Hey, people are not being paid, we're not being paid either.'"

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said the measure could build support for further steps, including his proposal to dock pay automatically. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., argued lawmakers should not hold federal workers hostage over funding disputes. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including many at the Department of Homeland Security, went without pay during the recent shutdowns.

Kennedy called the vote progress but said it fell short of what he wanted.