Congress Gets Paid During Shutdowns While Federal Workers Struggle: An Outrageous Double Standard

A government shutdown would undoubtedly lead to significant disruption for the country, causing considerable hardship for federal employees and the general population who rely on various government services.

Rob Rosenthal

Transportation disruptions, especially at airports, would occur due to the absence of air traffic controllers and TSA personnel. The functioning of public health facilities, including the Federal Drug Administration, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, would be reduced, detrimentally impacting public health. Federal museums and possibly National Parks would close. Student loan programs would be disturbed. Numerous families would potentially face the loss of essential nutrition provided by the SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) programs. The impact would extend to other areas as well.

The majority of our federal employees, totaling nearly 4 million, would face unpaid furloughs. Many of these individuals are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to miss even one payday, let alone multiple ones, as stated by Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, in an interview with CNN. On average, AFGE members earn between $55,000 and $65,000 per year, while hourly workers earn an average of $45,000 annually. However, there are thousands who earn closer to $15 an hour, which amounts to approximately $31,200 per year.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy addressing reporters upon Congress resuming its activities amidst an impending government shutdown crisis, at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Date: Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023)

As the government shutdown looms, tensions between McCarthy and Gaetz escalate during a closed-door House GOP meeting.

Many individuals would not have the necessary resources to endure this crisis. They would struggle to make rent or mortgage payments, rely on financial support from family members, forgo planned purchases, or turn to food pantries for assistance. Some would survive by depleting their savings or accumulating credit card debt, while others would seek alternative employment opportunities. Even essential workers, who are expected to work without pay, may choose not to show up in order to prioritize earning income for themselves and their families. Consequently, the impact of furloughs and workers seeking other jobs would result in a decline in the overall quality of life for all citizens.

Contrastingly, the continuity of receiving paychecks persisted for a specific group of federal employees - members of Congress. As stipulated by Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution, it is mandatory for members of Congress to be remunerated while serving their terms. Even if Congress desired to modify this arrangement, they would be unable to, as the 27th Amendment prohibits Congress from altering their own salaries during their current term. Presently, only a handful of representatives appear to acknowledge the injustice of this situation: the very individuals responsible for the government shutdown will not face the repercussions.

This differentiation between devising a plan and experiencing its consequences encapsulates the typical decision-making process of politicians, employers, managers, and other authoritative figures. They establish and enforce policies that impose repercussions on others, which they themselves are exempt from enduring. What if those members of Congress who initiated the government shutdown were subjected to the same economic ramifications as the average AFGE employee? Would a shutdown still appear as a valid political strategy?

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James Comer, Chairman of the Oversight Committee, addresses the House Oversight Committee's inquiry into the impeachment of President Joe Biden on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at Capitol Hill in Washington.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Opinion: Look whos weaponizing the government now

The division between making and living a plan is not universal or unavoidable. According to essayist Nassim Nicholas Taleb, warlords and warmongers throughout history were often warriors themselves, with only a minority of Roman emperors dying naturally. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky famously declined offers of evacuation from Kyiv, stating that he did not need a ride but rather ammunition. Zelensky is highly admired in his country for actively implementing his plan.

The hypocrisy of individuals who are willing to shut down the government in order to force permanent spending cuts becomes more evident when considering the specific cuts they demand. The Center on Budget Priorities has calculated that meeting the reduced funding levels proposed by radical Republicans, while simultaneously fully funding veterans and defense budgets, would result in an average 23 percent cut to domestic programs such as Head Start, Meals on Wheels, housing vouchers, Pell Grants, and food stamps. These cuts are claimed to be necessary due to the belief that increased federal spending leads to a debt crisis that would harm working-class Americans and burden future generations with a less prosperous and less free America.

However, Congressional salaries are not included in any proposed cuts. The proposal does not mention a 23% reduction in Congressional salaries (despite the significant benefits they receive). Additionally, members of Congress rarely participate in the programs they aim to cut. To summarize, they create the plan but do not intend to follow it. Sign up now for our free weekly newsletter.

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Trust in politicians and government has plummeted to an unprecedented level, with the Pew Research Center revealing that fewer than 20% of Americans trust the government's actions all or most of the time. The majority of individuals surveyed in recent years firmly believe that politicians prioritize their own interests. Regardless of one's political affiliation, there is a palpable disconnect between the decision-makers and those impacted by their choices. We cannot help but question the hypocrisy when politicians advocate for cutbacks, sacrifices, and government shutdowns in the name of a greater good without demonstrating their commitment to the same principles.