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Members of Congress Donate Their Salaries During Government Shutdown

Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus / Getty Images
January 22, 2018

Members of Congress from both sides of the political aisle are donating their taxpayer-funded salaries during the government shutdown.

The federal government shut down on Friday at midnight after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Feb. 16.

The House on Thursday had passed a short-term spending bill to keep the government open that included a measure to extend the Children's Health Insurance Program for six years. The next day, however, the CR failed in the Senate, triggering the shutdown. All but five Senate Democrats voted against the government-funding bill, saying they will not support a plan that does not preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which provides legal protections to immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

With the shutdown in place, thousands of federal employees who are deemed "non-essential" will be furloughed, meaning they are asked not to come into work and are on unpaid leave for the duration of the shutdown. The military is considered essential and currently paid through Feb. 1, but if the shutdown continues for weeks, about 1.3 million active-duty military personnel will be expected to work potentially without pay.

Republican Rep. Scott Taylor (Va.) was one of the first lawmakers to announce his intention to donate his salary to a non-profit in his district that helps veterans overcome homelessness and substance abuse.

"Congress shouldn't be paid during this # GovtShutdown, just like some of you aren't being paid & especially if our military & first responders are not," Taylor tweeted over the weekend. "I will donate my salary to a military/veterans' charity each day. Today's pay will go to Vetshouse, Inc."

Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.), a Marine Corps veteran, released a statement saying that he would donate his salary to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation until the shutdown ends.

Several other members of Congress from both parties were quick to echo similar sentiments, saying they will forgo pay during the shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said Sunday that the Senate will vote at noon Monday on a continuing resolution to fund the government through Feb. 8.