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Soldiers got partial checks. Senators got full checks. One group was doing their job. The other wasn't 🤔During the 43 day government shutdown in fall 2025, active duty military personnel received only partial pay while continuing to serve. Border agents and air traffic controllers worked without any pay at all. Some air traffic controllers reportedly took second jobs delivering food through apps like DoorDash to cover basic expenses. One bank issued more than $365 million in emergency loans to keep federal employees financially afloat during the shutdown.Members of Congress continued collecting their full salaries throughout. Senators earn $174,000 per year and are constitutionally guaranteed payment regardless of whether the government is open or closed. Over the course of the shutdown, the Senate voted more than a dozen times on funding proposals but failed to reach an agreement. At no point did lawmakers vote to suspend their own pay.Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana introduced legislation to withhold senators' paychecks during future shutdowns. The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee unanimously but has not yet been scheduled for a full Senate vote.