Some GOP lawmakers are pushing a bold plan to stop their own paychecks when the government grinds to a halt.
Fox News reported that on Tuesday, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, alongside several Republican colleagues, reintroduced a constitutional amendment to ensure that members of Congress receive no compensation during government shutdowns.
This isn’t just a symbolic gesture; the proposal explicitly states that no Representative or Senator gets paid—zero, nada—while a shutdown, defined as a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency due to Congress’s failure to pass funding bills, is in effect.
Think of it as a financial wake-up call for lawmakers who can’t get their act together. And with a partial shutdown hitting the nation just a day later on October 1, 2025, the timing couldn’t be sharper.
Rep. Norman, who’s also eyeing the South Carolina governor’s seat, didn’t mince words about why this matters. “During shutdowns, federal workers are told to ‘do more with less.’ Meanwhile, Congress still cashes paychecks,” he said. Well, if that isn’t a slap in the face to every hardworking American waiting for their government to function, what is?
The amendment’s language is clear: no pay during a shutdown, and no sneaky back pay either once the mess is cleaned up. It’s a principle as old as the hills—if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. Seems fair when federal employees and contractors are left twisting in the wind.
For this proposal to become part of the U.S. Constitution, it needs ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years of its submission.
That’s a tall order in a politically fractured landscape, but it’s a fight some conservatives are ready to wage. After all, accountability shouldn’t be a partisan issue.
Norman didn’t go at this alone; he’s got backup from GOP Reps. Bob Latta of Ohio, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Eli Crane of Arizona, Cory Mills of Florida, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, and John Joyce of Pennsylvania.
That’s a solid coalition of lawmakers willing to put their money—or lack thereof—where their mouths are. It’s refreshing to see politicians willing to face the same consequences they impose on others.
The backdrop to this proposal couldn’t be more fitting, with a partial government shutdown unfolding on October 1, 2025. Republicans and Democrats failed to hammer out a deal in time, leaving critical federal functions unfunded. It’s the kind of gridlock that makes you wonder if Congress needs a timeout—or at least a docked paycheck.
Norman’s frustration with the status quo is palpable, and it’s hard to argue with his logic. If everyday Americans don’t get paid for failing at their jobs, why should Congress be any different? This amendment could be the reality check Washington so desperately needs.
“Members of Congress have a constitutional duty to fund the government’s essential functions,” Norman declared.
And he’s right—passing budgets isn’t an optional hobby; it’s the bare minimum of governance. Yet here we are, with shutdowns becoming almost routine while lawmakers still draw a salary.
The proposal also grants Congress the power to enforce this amendment through legislation if it passes. That’s a practical nod to ensuring the rule isn’t just a lofty ideal but a hard-and-fast consequence. It’s about time someone turned the tables on Capitol Hill’s culture of entitlement.
Let’s be real: government shutdowns hurt real people—federal workers, small businesses, and families relying on public services.
When lawmakers drag their feet, it’s not just a political game; it’s a failure of responsibility. Docking their pay might not solve every problem, but it’s a step toward aligning their incentives with the public’s pain.
Of course, getting a constitutional amendment ratified is no walk in the park. Three-fourths of state legislatures must agree within a tight seven-year window, and in today’s polarized climate, that’s a Herculean task. Still, the principle behind this proposal resonates with anyone fed up with Washington’s dysfunction.
