Senators vote to withhold their own pay during government shutdowns

Government ShutdownSenators vote to withhold their own pay during government shutdownsThe resolution prevents senators from getting paid during federal shutdowns, but ensures that they receive back pay after the government re-opens.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The resolution, offered by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., passed by voice vote and takes effect after the 2026 midterm elections.Nathan Posner / Anadolu via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 14, 2026, 12:09 PM EDTBy Sahil Kapur and Frank Thorp VWASHINGTON — Senators unanimously approved a measure Thursday to withhold their own pay during federal government shutdowns.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The resolution, offered by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., passed by voice vote and takes effect after the 2026 midterm elections. It does not need to pass the House or be signed into law.“During any period in which a Government shutdown is in effect, the Secretary of the Senate shall disburse and hold any payments otherwise required to be made with respect to such period for the compensation of each Senator,” it states.The measure includes a section stating that, just like federal government employees, senators will receive full back pay “as soon as practicable after the date on which the Government shutdown ends.”It comes after repeated and record-long government shutdowns over the last 16 months as Congress failed to agree on funding bills, causing extended partisan finger-pointing.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSahil KapurSahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.Frank Thorp VFrank Thorp V is a coordinating producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate.