The Senate unanimously approved a measure requiring members to forgo their paychecks during future government shutdowns, with withheld funds released only after a deal is reached to reopen the federal government. The resolution, pushed by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., passed without opposition in the upper chamber.
The rule change represents a symbolic shift in how Congress holds itself accountable for budget impasses that have repeatedly left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. In the past year alone, Congress failed to keep the government open twice — first for 43 days and most recently for 76 days.
However, the measure's effectiveness as a deterrent is already being questioned by some lawmakers who note that many senators are independently wealthy. According to an analysis of financial disclosure data reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported by NOTUS, nearly three-quarters of the Senate are millionaires.
"There are some members who are very independently wealthy that their congressional paycheck is a rounding error to their investments," Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital. "Fine, I'm not pejorative of that at all. But we need to actually end government shutdowns."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican senators who backed the change emphasized it as one building block toward broader reforms. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., a member of the Senate's wealthiest contingent, argued that lawmakers should not hold federal workers "hostage based on what we're doing."
"Hopefully it'll get people to focus on getting appropriations done, because, you know, we don't have a process to get this stuff done," Scott said.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, another affluent member of the Senate, expressed optimism that Kennedy's resolution could pave the way for his own legislation that would dock members' pay during shutdowns — a more punitive approach than simple deferral.
"It's about brick by brick, rebuilding confidence in the institution," Moreno told Fox News Digital.
Some Republicans have also raised concerns that Senate Democrats may attempt to trigger another government closure before midterm elections to gain political leverage. The new rule change, they hope, will at least convince some lawmakers against such a move.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic senators have largely supported the measure as a step toward greater accountability, though some progressive voices argue it does not go far enough in protecting federal workers who bear the brunt of shutdowns. Critics from the left contend that docking lawmaker pay is insufficient without also prohibiting members from leaving Washington during a closure — a provision Kennedy advocated but could not secure votes for.
Federal employee unions have argued that while the Senate rule change signals goodwill, it does little to address the underlying dysfunction that causes repeated budget impasses. Workers under the Department of Homeland Security went without paychecks twice in the past year, a burden advocates say cannot be compared to missing a congressional salary.
Progressives have also noted that the measure does not address the political calculus some lawmakers may still find favorable in triggering shutdowns, particularly when the potential consequences for wealthy members are minimal.
What the Numbers Show
Financial disclosure data analyzed by Fox News Digital and NOTUS found approximately 74 percent of senators are millionaires prior to taking office. This means for many members, a suspended congressional salary — currently $174,000 annually — represents a negligible financial impact compared to their existing wealth and investment portfolios.
The average Senate salary of $174,000 compares to the median federal employee salary that falls significantly below that figure. Federal workers in agencies like DHS faced two separate periods without pay over the past 12 months — lasting a combined 119 days — with no guarantee of back pay until Congress appropriates funding.
Lankford has introduced separate legislation that would automatically extend government funding on a temporary, two-week basis if lawmakers miss budget deadlines, aiming to prevent shutdowns from occurring at all rather than adding consequences after the fact. That bill has not yet received a floor vote.
The Bottom Line
The Senate's unanimous approval of paycheck deferral during shutdowns marks a rare instance of Congress imposing new accountability measures on itself. However, given that most senators are independently wealthy, questions remain about whether the rule will meaningfully change behavior or serve primarily as symbolic action.
What to watch: Whether Kennedy can build support for more stringent measures, such as outright forfeiture of pay rather than mere deferral, and a prohibition against lawmakers leaving Washington during shutdowns. Lankford's automatic continuing resolution bill may also gain traction as another approach to preventing budget impasses entirely. The effectiveness of the new rule will likely be tested the next time Congress approaches a funding deadline.