Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey has blocked legislation that would keep lawmakers on payroll until the government shutdown ends.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott on Thursday afternoon asked for unanimous consent to pass his No Budget, No Pay Act in the Senate, prompting an objection from Markey. The debate over lawmakers' salaries comes as many federal employees, including congressional staffers, report to work despite not receiving pay during the 37-day shutdown. (RELATED: Thune Warns Democrats Against Using Election Results to Continue Shutdown)
“If he's willing to defer his paycheck, why not let him pass my bill that would require all of us to defer our paychecks until the government gets going again,” Scott said during debate on the measure Thursday. “The right decision is to open the government.”
Markey said he asked for his government salary to be deferred until the government reopens. However, not all Democrats have been so open about their government paychecks during the funding gap.
Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego said NBC said at the start of the shutdown that it could not afford to give up its government salary.
When asked from the Daily Caller News Foundation about what he planned to do with his salary, Gallego became angry and responded, “Are you talking about that again?”
Lawmakers receive an annual base salary of $174,000 per year, while those in leadership positions receive higher salaries. Members of Congress are guaranteed a government salary thanks to Article I, Section 6 Constitution.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 23: U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks with reporters as he walks toward the Senate chambers at the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Markey also accused Republicans of “holding Americans' health care hostage” and called on his colleagues to negotiate Democrats' health care demands to resolve the record economic shutdown.
Scott said Republicans will not consider Democrats' demands until they vote to reopen the government. Mark has voted 14 times opposed to a clear, bipartisan stopgap government funding bill.
“If we want to fix health care, and we have to do that on a bipartisan basis, we have to come to the table … as soon as we open up the federal government,” Scott said.
“You won't do that by shutting down the government and making sure our military isn't paid, our T.S.A. [Transportation Security Administration] don't pay, or FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] are not getting paid, or the Capitol Police are not getting paid, or all of our federal employees are not getting paid, and we are preventing 42 million people from getting food stamps,” Scott continued.
Senate Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated as Democrats appear content to extend the funding break despite the mounting cost to their constituents.
“We carried out the current resolutions to keep the government funded, and … they tried to seize it, take it hostage,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday. “I think mainly to put a face on their left-wing base, which demands and insists that they fight Trump at every turn, no matter the issue.”
Markey, 79, has served in Congress since 1976. He currently faces a competitive 2026 Democratic primary challenge from 46-year-old Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who, while announcing his campaign.
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