Key Takeaways

• All six members of the Kansas congressional delegation have paused their salaries during the federal shutdown.
• Lawmakers of both parties say it’s unfair to be paid while federal staffers work without wages.
• The move aims to add pressure for a bipartisan deal to reopen government services.
• The shutdown threatens nutrition programs and leaves thousands of Kansans furloughed.
• Delegation members vow to withhold pay until a funding agreement is reached.

Kansas delegation members have joined forces to pause their federal salaries during the ongoing government shutdown. They say the decision shows solidarity with furloughed workers and military members who must work without pay. As the standoff drags on, the six lawmakers hope their vote of no-pay will spur action in Congress.

How Kansas Delegation Reached the Decision

The Kansas delegation includes two senators and four representatives. Originally, all were from the Republican Party except one Democrat. Now, they have all agreed to suspend their monthly checks of about fourteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Representative Sharice Davids was the last to join. She sent a letter to the House chief administrative officer asking to halt her paycheck. She said Kansans are fed up with Washington’s dysfunction. Meanwhile, Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall had already paused their pay. In the House, Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, and Ron Estes followed suit.

Why Lawmakers Refuse Pay

First, the lawmakers argue that if federal workers must stay on the job without pay, then members of Congress should do the same. Furthermore, they call the impasse unnecessary and frustrating. Representative Schmidt pointed out that two options exist for the Senate: approve the clean, bipartisan bill the House passed weeks ago or send an alternate plan back to the House for a vote.

Senator Roger Marshall noted that pressure grows when air traffic controllers and military staff face missed paydays. He predicted a breakthrough once those workers see no pay on November first. Representative Estes had already told House administrators to withhold his net pay until a funding deal passed.

Effects on Federal Workers and Programs

Thousands of Kansas federal employees are furloughed this month. However, essential workers like border patrol agents and air traffic controllers must work without a paycheck. Kansas is home to over twenty-five thousand federal employees and more than twenty-one thousand active-duty service members.

In addition, the shutdown endangers vital aid programs. SNAP, which feeds roughly one hundred eighty-seven thousand Kansans, could see funding cut. WIC, helping fifty thousand women, infants, and children, also faces suspension. Kansans relying on these programs worry about missed benefits if the shutdown lasts.

Representative Davids shared a personal story. Her mother, an Army veteran, raised three children alone. She said if her mom had missed even one paycheck, the family would have struggled to choose between food and utilities.

What Comes Next

As the shutdown continues, the Kansas delegation hopes to push Congress toward a bipartisan solution. They insist any deal to reopen the government should also protect families’ health care. Tax credits that lower insurance costs are set to expire later this year. Without an extension, many Kansans could face higher medical bills.

Meanwhile, the House has already passed a bill to fund the government through November. The Senate must agree or propose a different plan for House approval. Until then, the stalemate will continue, and paychecks will remain on hold for both federal workers and lawmakers.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they want to avoid further harm to families and essential services. However, political divisions have delayed progress. The Kansas delegation’s no-pay stance aims to remind leaders in Washington that people back home expect quick action.

Looking Forward

Until Congress reaches a funding agreement, these six Kansas lawmakers will refuse their pay. Their coordinated stand is rare but shows growing frustration with partisan gridlock. By aligning across party lines, the Kansas delegation hopes to set an example.

In the coming days, attention will shift to other members of Congress. Will more lawmakers join this protest? Could the pressure from unfunded workers and unpaid representatives force a breakthrough? Only time will tell if this strategy brings an end to the shutdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when lawmakers halt their paychecks?

It means they’ve asked House or Senate administrators to stop their monthly salary until the government reopens.

Why did the Kansas delegation choose this action?

They wanted to stand with federal employees and military members who work without pay during the shutdown.

How long will the pay suspension last?

It will continue until Congress passes a bipartisan funding resolution to end the shutdown.

Could more members of Congress join this protest?

Yes, if this tactic gains attention, other lawmakers might also refuse their pay to increase pressure for a deal.