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1h ago

Norman Reintroduces Amendment to Block Congressional Pay During Shutdowns

Constitutional limits mean it would not change pay during the current shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, blamed the government shutdown on Republicans' insistence on making deep cuts in healthcare spending.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol after the last votes before August recess on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders say the government shutdown will lead to extensive cuts in federal employment and programs that will harm Democratic constituencies.

Overview

  • The federal government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding, and lawmakers continue to receive salaries by law while federal workers are guaranteed back pay under a 2019 statute.
  • Rep. Ralph Norman filed a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would bar members of Congress from receiving pay during any funding lapse and explicitly forbid back pay, with an enforcement clause for Congress.
  • Advancement would require supermajorities in both chambers and state ratification, and the 27th Amendment prevents immediate changes to congressional compensation, so the proposal would not apply now.
  • Norman listed Republican co-sponsors including Reps. Bob Latta, Jack Bergman, Eli Crane, Cory Mills, Dusty Johnson, and John Joyce.
  • Some lawmakers said they will refuse or withhold their own pay during the shutdown, including Sen. Andy Kim, Rep. Kat Cammack, and Rep. Gus Bilirakis.