Washington, D.C. — Senator John Kennedy has ignited a political firestorm on Capitol Hill after introducing two explosive bills that would strip lawmakers of their paychecks during government shutdowns — and bar them from ever getting that money back.
The Louisiana Republican dropped the bombshell legislation earlier this week, saying what millions of frustrated Americans have been shouting for years: if Congress can’t do its job, it shouldn’t get paid.
Kennedy’s twin proposals — the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act and the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act (S.3057) — would freeze congressional salaries any time the federal government runs out of funding. In one version, pay would be held in escrow until a new Congress begins. In the other, lawmakers would simply lose that money altogether.
“If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck — plain and simple,” Kennedy declared.
“I don’t see missed paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage. My bills make sure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay — our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers.”
The move comes as Washington faces yet another record-long shutdown, with hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay. While everyday workers struggle to cover rent and groceries, members of Congress continue collecting their six-figure salaries — a contrast that has fueled public anger for years.
“No work, no pay” — Kennedy’s message hits home
Kennedy’s legislation immediately drew strong reactions from across the political spectrum. Populists and working-class voters praised the senator’s blunt honesty, calling it a rare moment of accountability in a city notorious for protecting its own.
“Finally, someone in Congress who gets it,” one viral post on X (formerly Twitter) read. “If regular Americans lose their pay when the government shuts down, why should politicians get special treatment?”
But not everyone was thrilled. Some lawmakers privately fumed that the bills were “political theatre” designed to score points rather than fix the underlying budget gridlock. One Democratic aide told reporters the proposal was “performative nonsense” that “won’t pass and everyone knows it.”
Kennedy, however, seems unfazed. “I didn’t come here to win a popularity contest,” he told Fox News. “I came here to make sure Washington stops acting like an elite club that doesn’t answer to the people.”
A growing push for accountability
Representative Bryan Steil (R-WI) has already introduced a companion bill in the House, echoing Kennedy’s outrage. “If federal law enforcement officers and servicemembers aren’t getting paid during a shutdown,” Steil said, “then members of Congress shouldn’t be paid either.”
The proposals would require that congressional pay be halted the moment a shutdown begins, forcing lawmakers to feel the same financial pressure their constituents experience. Critics argue the measure would be largely symbolic — but Kennedy insists symbolism matters when the system is broken.
“This isn’t about the money,” he said. “It’s about responsibility. Maybe if we all felt the heat, we’d actually do our jobs.”
Shockwaves across Washington
Political analysts say the move could shake up Washington’s culture of complacency. For decades, Congress has largely insulated itself from the real-world consequences of its own gridlock. Kennedy’s proposal dares to puncture that comfort zone — and in doing so, highlights the public’s growing distrust of both parties.
Even if the bills never make it to the president’s desk, Kennedy has succeeded in exposing a pressure point few in Washington want to touch: accountability.
“This is Kennedy at his best — populist, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore,” one commentator said. “He’s forcing Congress to look in the mirror — and they don’t like what they see.”
The bottom line
Whether it passes or not, Kennedy’s “no pay during shutdowns” crusade has already done what few pieces of legislation manage to do anymore: get everyone talking.
As one Capitol staffer put it, shaking their head: “He’s just said out loud what the American public’s been thinking for years — and that’s why they’re terrified.”
For now, Washington is on notice: when the next shutdown hits, John Kennedy wants lawmakers to feel the pain, too.
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