Does Congress Get Paid During a Government Shutdown?
What’s New
Congress is scrambling to pass a bill to temporarily fund the federal government to avoid a shutdown less than a week before Christmas.
House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a continuing resolution to fund the government through March, but President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, increasingly influential among Republicans, opposition to the legislation has thrown it into uncertainty, as many members of Congress have come out against it.
Why It Matters
A shutdown could have impacts on millions of Americans. Federal workers would be furloughed and not receive pay during a time of the year when many Americans take on more expenses due to the winter holidays. Nonessential government functions would be put on pause.
But members of Congress would still collect a check, regardless of whether the government is open.
Members of Congress attend a joint session at the U.S. Capitol on April 11. Congress has until Friday to pass a funding bill to temporarily fund the government and avoid a shutdown.
ALLISON BAILEY/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
What To Know
The U.S. Constitution states that 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,” meaning they will receive their salary even during a shutdown.
In 2023, Representative Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat, introduced legislation that would block member pay during a shutdown, writing in a statement she believes it is “ridiculous that we still get paid while folks like TSA workers are asked to work without a paycheck.”
Johnson was meeting with lawmakers on Thursday to try to secure a deal to temporarily fund the government, even as some House Republicans said they would be fine with a longer shutdown, reported CNN.
What People Are Saying
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters, per CNN: “We’re working through some things. We had some real progress last night.”
Representative Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, on CNN: “This is not on Biden’s watch. This is on Mike Johnson’s watch. The fact that he cannot hold his raucous caucus together in the final days right before Christmas holidays, as Donald Trump and Elon Musk are tweeting, I think shows the inherent weakness of the GOP right now.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, on X: “The government can shut down all the way until Jan 20th as far as I’m concerned. AND WE MUST STAND FIRM WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO STOP THE MADNESS!! No matter what. Even if we have to elect new leadership.”
What Happens Next
The CR would fund the government through March 14, 2025. When it expires, Republicans would also have control of the presidency and Senate, likely giving them more room to include some conservative priorities, though their House margin will remain slim.
Government Shutdown: Impact on Congress
During a shutdown, members of Congress and the president would continue to work and receive full pay as they aim to reach a deal to restore funding to the rest of the federal government.
However, staff not deemed essential would be furloughed, meaning they’ll only return to work when the shutdown ends.
What Is The Possibility That The Government Will Shut Down?
If the government cannot reach a deal by Friday night, there would be a shutdown. Congressional leaders are still negotiating in hopes of striking a deal before then.
Government Shutdown History: How Many Times Has It Happened?
There have been 21 government shutdowns in U.S. history, all occurring in the past five decades.
The most recent was the longest at 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, when Congress could not reach a deal with Trump on an appropriations bill to fund the government. It ended when Trump agreed to a funding package that did not include money for his border wall.
There was one other shutdown during the Trump administration in January 2018, though it lasted only three days.
There were no shutdowns during the Biden administration, despite concerns of a shutdown in 2023 that ended in a temporary funding bill and one 16-day shutdown during the Obama administration in 2013. Before that, there had not been any shutdowns since the Clinton administration.
Will A Government Shutdown Affect Air Travel?
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are deemed essential, so they would be required to work throughout a shutdown but would not collect pay until it ends. If TSA workers choose not to work due to the lack of pay, there could be longer lines at airports.