October 23, 2025
Welp – we are headed for yet another week of this government shutdown. And so many of you have said why are these members of Congress still getting paid. I’m about to tell you why in this video – and fun fact – they’re not the only ones still getting paid.
Now – let’s be very clear. First and foremost more than a million essential federal workers are expected to show up to work and not get paid – including our active duty military members and nearly a million more are furloughed and not getting a paycheck either.
Senators – who by the way are absolutely still getting paid — are about to call it quits for the week. Yes – I know it’s only Thursday. But instead of sticking around and working around the clock to find a resolution – they’re going home for their long weekend. And don’t get me started on the House – which has been on recess since September 19th – that’s 34 days out of session. And of course the head of the republican party – President Donald Trump is also skipping town….leaving the country later tonight for his trip to Asia. For the record presidents in the past have canceled their foreign trips during government shutdowns to assist in getting the government back open. In fact during the longest government shutdown in history –35 days — which happened during President Trump’s first term in 2018 and 2019 he canceled his trip to the world economic forum in Davos Switzerland to stay in the United States and help the negotiations. President Obama canceled his trip to Asia in 2013 because of the shutdown which lasted 16 days.
So back to the original question… why are these politicians still getting paid with your money? Before I answer that question – you should also know – they aren’t the only ones still being paid. So are the supreme court justices, federal judges, and the president of the United States.
Now – the reason why all these people are still getting paid is simple. It’s in the constitution.
Article II, Section 1 talks about the president’s pay. It says the president’s compensation shall not be increased or diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected.
The same goes for the Supreme Court justices and all appointed federal judges – according to Article III, Section 1. Their compensation cannot be diminished during their continuance in office.
Now – let’s talk about Congress…there are two parts of the constitution that talk about their pay. In Article I Section 6 it says “senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.” Meaning – their pay is guaranteed, regardless of a shutdown. Plus the 27th amendment of the constitution also prevents congressional pay rate from changing during their current term.
But here’s an important part of all this — the president and members of Congress need their aides and staffers to help conduct the business of the government and the people and those supreme court justices and federal judges need their clerks and administrative staff to help keep the judicial system running. And none of those support people are getting paid. Some are considered essential so they have to show up and do their jobs and not get paid and the rest of them are furloughed with no pay.
