27th Amendment

A federal court ruled that Congress improperly canceled cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers, violating the 27th Amendment, but a raise remains uncertain. The decision, a preliminary victory for bipartisan plaintiffs seeking back pay, highlights ongoing legal and political battles over stagnant congressional compensation.

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution to freeze members' pay during government shutdowns starting after this year's midterm elections. The measure, led by Sen. John Kennedy, requires the Senate secretary to hold paychecks if Congress fails to fund federal agencies on time, aiming to reduce future shutdowns.

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution to freeze lawmakers' pay during government shutdowns starting after the 2026 midterm elections. The measure, proposed by Sen. John Kennedy, aims to reduce future shutdowns by requiring the Senate secretary to hold onto lawmakers' paychecks until funding is finalized, similar to federal employees' back pay after shutdowns.

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution to freeze lawmakers' pay during government shutdowns starting after the 2026 midterm elections. The measure, introduced by Sen. John Kennedy, applies only to the Senate and aims to reduce future shutdowns by making senators forfeit pay during such events until funding is finalized.

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution to withhold lawmakers' pay during government shutdowns beginning after the 2026 midterm elections. The House of Representatives is not included in the measure, and the resolution aims to discourage future shutdowns by making lawmakers financially affected. Similar to federal employees, senators would receive back pay once a shutdown ends.