Democrat Blocks Bill That Would Ensure Lawmakers Don’t Cash Paychecks During Shutdown
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey blocked legislation that would withhold lawmakers’ salaries until the government shutdown ends.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott asked for unanimous consent Thursday afternoon to pass his No Budget, No Pay Act in the Senate, prompting an objection from Markey. The debate over lawmakers’ pay comes as many federal employees, including members of Congress, report to work despite missing their paychecks during the 37-day shutdown. (RELATED: Thune Warns Democrats Against Seizing Election Results to Maintain Shutdown)
“If he’s willing to defer his paycheck, why wouldn’t he allow my bill to pass that says we should all defer our paychecks until the government is open again,” Scott said during debate on the measure Thursday. “The right thing to do is open the government.”
Markey said he requested that his government salary be deferred until the government reopens. However, not all Democrats have been as open about their government pay during the funding period.
Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego told NBC at the start of the shutdown that he couldn’t afford to forgo his government salary.
When asked by the Daily Caller News Foundation what he planned to do with his salary, Gallego grew irritated and replied, “Are you on that yet?”
Lawmakers earn an annual base salary of $174,000, with those in leadership positions receiving a higher salary. Members of Congress are guaranteed their government salaries due to Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 23: U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks to reporters as he tours the Senate chambers of the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Markey also accused Republicans of “holding Americans’ health care hostage” and urged his counterparts to negotiate over Democrats’ health care demands in order to reach a resolution to the record shutdown.
Scott argued that Republicans won’t consider Democrats’ demands until they vote to reopen the government. Markey voted 14 times against a bipartisan stopgap bill to temporarily fund the government.
“If we want to improve health care, which we should do in a bipartisan way, we should sit down … once we open up the federal government,” Scott said.
“We can’t do this by shutting down the government and making sure our military doesn’t get paid, our TSA [Transportation Security Administration] is not paid, or FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] “We’re not getting paid, or the Capitol Police aren’t getting paid, or all of our federal employees aren’t getting paid, and we’re keeping 42 million people off food stamps,” Scott continued.
Senate Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated that Democrats appear content to prolong the funding gap despite the growing burden on their constituents.
“We cleaned up continuing resolutions to keep the government funded, and … they tried to hijack it, hold it hostage,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday. “I’m especially thinking about making a good impression on their left-wing base, which demands and insists that they fight Trump at every turn, no matter the issue.”
Markey, 79, has served in Congress since 1976. He currently faces a competitive challenge in the 2026 Democratic primary from Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, 46, who invoked the need for generational change in announcing his campaign.
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