Senate staffers missed their first full paycheck due to the government shutdown on Monday, but at least one Democratic lawmaker who has repeatedly voted against reopening the government would not say whether he still plans to receive his salary.
Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Monday that he is “still considering” whether to ask for a withholding of his next paycheck. Gallego also criticized Republicans for making “tokenistic, bullshit gestures” during the shutdown, saying most of his colleagues are rich people who can afford to miss paychecks. (RELATED: Democrats block bill to pay troops during shutdown)
“But the whole point of this whole thing is one big gimmick, because all these guys here are either millionaires or billionaires, and they were already paid a month before they started doing this,” Gallego told DCNF, referring to his House colleagues who are paid monthly. “At the same time, they were careless about the fact that they were going to increase insurance premiums for 24 million Americans and potentially take away health insurance from 4 million Americans.”
“But they will make these symbolic, bullshit gestures that don’t help the cause,” Gallego continued.
Members of Congress are paid during the shutdown under a provision in the Constitution that protects their salaries. Lawmakers earn an annual salary of $174,000, with those in leadership positions receiving higher amounts.
Most lawmakers from both parties spoke out. promised refuse your next salary while the quarantine continues.
Gallego earlier said NBC News said before the shutdown began that he could not afford to miss a paycheck, citing his three children.
“You know, I would basically be short on mortgage payments, rent payments, child support payments,” Arizona Democrat, who divorced and remarried in 2019, the publication reported. “So it is not feasible and will not happen.”
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 1: Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) leaves the Senate Chamber of the United States Capitol Building on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. The government shut down early Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal. (Photo by Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Senate staff received an email Thursday saying all future salaries would be withheld until the end of the shutdown, according to an email obtained by DCNF.
DCNF asked Gallego about his employees, who are likely experiencing similar financial problems, not receiving pay on Monday.
“I told you what I said,” Gallego said, declining to elaborate.
Arizona Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani criticized Gallego for refusing to discuss the issue of his employees not being paid during the shutdown.
There is so much insight here from Ruben Gallego:
1. “Still evaluating”? Even given the chance to change course and do the right thing, Ruben still can't find it in himself.
2. “Trick”? How about principles and solidarity with everyone you have harmed with this closure by deciding… https://t.co/kGdblFK7hz
— Juan Ciscomani (@JuanCiscomani) October 20, 2025
“No comments about his employees not getting paid? Maybe he thinks they are millionaires too…” Ciscomani wrote to X. “No character. No leadership. No shame.”
Senate Democrats have repeatedly refused to provide the votes to temporarily fund the government and end the shutdown.
Galician has rejected bipartisan government stopgap measure passed by the House of Representatives eleven individual cases. The measure also ensures that his employees and millions of other federal workers who miss payday will receive their pay.
Arizona Democrat also voted against a procedural proposal to introduce a defense appropriations bill Thursday that would give U.S. military personnel pay for the entire fiscal year.
Gallego supported the Democratic counterproposal, which strength the government will spend an additional $1.5 trillion on various partisan political demands to fund operations through October 31.
More than 500 people applied for a $5,000 loan to help with closings, according to a U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union spokesman. Hundreds of Capitol Hill staffers and federal employees from various agencies have become members of the credit union or its financial literacy nonprofit simply to apply for a loan.
Andie Shae Napier contributed to this report.
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