Kansas Congressional Delegation Refuses Pay During Government Shutdown

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, members of Congress from Kansas and the Capital Region have collectively chosen to withhold their paychecks in solidarity with furloughed federal workers who are not receiving pay. Kansas' entire congressional delegation, including Democrat Sharice Davids and all Republican members, have voluntarily halted their federal salaries until Congress reaches a bipartisan agreement to end the shutdown. Similarly, Capital Region lawmakers Elise Stefanik, Pat Ryan, Josh Riley, Paul Tonko, as well as Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, have also refused to accept their pay during the shutdown. Congressional salaries, set at $174,000 annually, continue to be guaranteed by the Constitution even when the government is closed, but these lawmakers have opted to forgo their pay to express frustration with the ongoing impasse and pressure their colleagues to resolve it. The shutdown's impact extends beyond unpaid federal workers, affecting federal programs and services in Kansas and nationwide. Despite legislative attempts to change laws regarding congressional pay during shutdowns, no changes have been enacted, so such voluntary pay withholding remains a matter of personal choice by lawmakers.