Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) voiced support for legislation introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) that would withhold pay from lawmakers during government shutdowns on Sunday.
Kennedy introduced a pair of bills last year during the longest government shutdown in United States history to ensure lawmakers feel “the same pain” as federal workers not getting paid during a shutdown. One of these bills is the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act, which would halt lawmakers’ salaries and provide them with no back pay.
Britt said she believes Congress would be “much more eager” to find a resolution to end shutdowns if members were also not receiving pay.
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“And I believe John Kennedy has a bill and it says that if we don’t do our job and that if people aren’t getting paid in the government, that have stepped up to serve the United States government, then Congress shouldn’t get a paycheck either,” Britt said on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing. “I firmly support that, and I think if that moved through the Senate and the House, then ultimately, people would be much more eager to find a resolution, and I am all for it.”
Kennedy’s legislation isn’t the only one seeking to pause pay for Congress amid a shutdown. In March 2025, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) introduced the No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act, which would withhold pay if Congress allows the federal government to hit the debt ceiling or shut down due to a funding lapse.
Britt also applauded X owner Elon Musk’s offer to pay Transportation Security Administration personnel amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. She said she appreciates Musk’s “patriotism.”
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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. John Fetterman also thanked Musk for his “generous” offer. Fetterman added that he is the only Democrat willing to vote to fully fund DHS, saying, “It should never come to this point.”
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to conduct security screenings at airports if Congress does not fund the DHS. Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that ICE officers would not replace TSA officers, but instead fill gaps created by staffing shortages.
