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Federal government shutdown enters day 6
The U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day Monday, with no end in sight. LiveNOW'S Carel Lajara discusses the latest with FOX 5 DC's Melanie Alnwick.
Democratic and Republican legislators are requesting that their pay be withheld during the government shutdown which entered its sixth day on Monday.
What lawmakers offered to refuse their pay during the shutdown?
Dig deeper:
FOX News listed several legislators among a group of others who have asked for their pay to be denied during the ongoing shutdown:
Republican lawmakers
- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas
- Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa
- Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.
- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa
- Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa.
Democratic lawmakers
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.
- Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif.
Additionally, a few other lawmakers like Sens. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced they would donate their paychecks for the duration of the government shutdown.
FILE-President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Sha Hanting/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
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According to FOX News, legislators requesting their pay be refused can’t forgo it completely based on a federal law that requires them to be paid.
Citing Article 1 of the Constitution, FOX News noted that "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States." Moreover, the 27th Amendment precludes changes to congressional pay until after the next election.
How much do some lawmakers earn?
Big picture view:
FOX News noted that most House and Senate legislators are paid $174,000 annually, while members of congressional leadership can earn more.
Members of Congress can also choose to have their pay rejected until the government shutdown ends, but they must receive that as money as backpay once the government is funded again.
But congressional staffers automatically miss paychecks if their pay period happens during a shutdown, but they also receive backpay when the shutdown concludes.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by FOX News, which cites a source familiar with lawmakers' pay during a government shutdown. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.