Government Shutdowns are a Sign of Incompetence

When the government shuts down, thousands of federal workers lose their paychecks — yet members of the U.S. House of Representatives continue to collect theirs. This is unfair, illogical, and a clear sign of a broken system. If lawmakers fail to keep the government open, they should share the consequences. No work, no pay — for Congress too.

Government shutdowns are not a sign of strength or principled leadership — they are the clearest proof of a faulty, incompetent, and dysfunctional government. A shutdown means that those elected to serve have failed at the most basic responsibility of governance: keeping the nation running. It is the direct result of political deadlock, negligence, and an inability to compromise — failures that inflict real hardships on millions of Americans who depend on essential services, paychecks, and stability. When Congress cannot fulfill its duty to govern, the people should not bear the cost while lawmakers continue to collect full pay and benefits.

We, the undersigned, demand legislation that halts congressional pay during any federal government shutdown. Congress must not be exempt from the consequences of its own inaction.

No work, no pay — for everyone.
If the government isn’t functioning, neither should congressional paychecks.

What We’re Asking For:

We call on Congress to:

• Enact a law suspending pay for all members of Congress during a federal government shutdown.
• Apply this rule equally to all elected officials, without exceptions or retroactive compensation. 
• Ensure accountability by linking congressional pay to government functionality — the same standard applied to all federal workers

Why It Matters:

This is about fairness, shared responsibility, and restoring public trust. Lawmakers must experience the same hardships they impose on others. If Congress knew that shutdowns would impact their own paychecks, perhaps they would think twice before using them as political weapons.