Thune Advances New Bill to Block 100% of Senators’ Pay During Shutdown

Information is as yet sparse, but on Monday, it looks like the Senate Majority Leader, John Thune (R-SD), has advanced in the Senate a measure that would cut off every Senator's pay during a government shutdown. The measure will require 60 votes to pass, and I'll be dipped in something unpleasant if it shouldn't get 100 votes.

🚨 NOW: Leader Thune advances measure to BLOCK 100% of senators' pay during a government shutdown

This should pass EASILY. It's common sense and long overdue! 🔥

It will now need 60 VOTES to advance. pic.twitter.com/FmuWOXqgEY

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 11, 2026

Here's what was said:

Clerk / Presiding Officer: Calendar number 296, I should say. S. Res. 526. The clerk will report.

Clerk: Calendar Number 296, S. Res. 572 (sic). A resolution withholding the pay of senators if a government shutdown occurs.

Senator John Thune: Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Clerk: Clerk will report the cloture motion.

Clerk (reading the motion): Cloture motion. We, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 22 of the standing rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to proceed to Calendar Number 296, S. Res. 526, a resolution withholding the pay of senators if a government shutdown occurs. Signed by 17 senators as follows...

Senator John Thune: Mr. President, I ask consent that the reading of the names be waived.

Presiding Officer: Without objection.

Senator John Thune: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

This would be an unalloyed good, and it would be good for the House, too. If these people can't get their primary job done, if they can't pass budget items to keep the federal government running, then by Tophet they don't deserve to get paid.

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This measure deserves to be passed. But Senator Thune, to you I say this: Let's get the SAVE America Act passed, while you're at it. That, too, deserves to be passed, and in time for this fall's midterm elections. The GOP is being helped out, somewhat, by redistricting in holding the House, but that doesn't help with the Senate. With honest elections, I think we can hold the Senate. With things as they are now? That's not certain, not at all. 

If you have to kill the filibuster to get this done, then kill the filibuster. A year ago, I would have said just the opposite, but that was then, and this is now. If we let the Democrats capture the Senate, they will kill the filibuster on Day One. So let's make it harder for them to capture the Senate, and honest elections will help do that. We have to nail down the elections in several states, and we have to get our people fired up to go vote. The SAVE America Act will help with both of those things.

Not paying Senators during a shutdown is a great idea. It's long overdue. And the same thing should apply to the House. But the SAVE America Act is even more important, so let's get that done, too, whatever it takes.

Editor’s Note: Republicans are fighting for election integrity by requiring proper identification to vote.

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