Senate staffers, including those who work to keep the chamber running, will miss their first paycheck Monday as the government shutdown nears its three-week mark, and more congressional employees begin to seek temporary relief.
The grim milestone is but the latest consequence of the protracted partisan fight on Capitol Hill over Democratic demands to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies.
The pay lapse has driven more than 500 members of the Senate Federal Credit Union to apply for its $5,000 shutdown relief loan, a company spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. The first disbursements went out on Oct. 14, and a second round was slated for Monday. The loans are interest-free if repaid within 90 days.
The credit union will roll out a “Phase 2” in the likely event the shutdown drags on, in addition to offering extensions and possible modifications on its loan products.
Senate staffers are paid twice a month on the 5th and 20th. Monday’s missed paycheck covers work performed since the shutdown’s start on Oct. 1 through Oct. 15. House staffers have not missed any paychecks yet because they’re paid monthly.
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Once new funding is approved by Congress and the government is reopened, it will take three additional days for Senate staffers to receive missed pay.
Monday marked the 20th day of the shutdown. A House-passed “clean” short-term funding bill from Republicans has so far been rejected by Senate Democrats 10 times due to an impasse over the health insurance tax credits.
