Indian-origin Congressmen Suhas Subramanyam and Ami Bera announced that they would not take their congressional salaries as long as the government remains shut down, as federal workers and troops are forced to work without pay. “Government shutdowns are devastating to Virginia families and small businesses. While Republicans force this shutdown and federal workers and contractors go without pay, I will not accept a paycheck and will continue to stand up for the men and women who protect our communities,” Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia’s 10th district Congressman, said.“This shutdown was completely avoidable, and I will continue to fight for Virginians hurt by Republicans’ inability to pass a budget,” Subramanyam said.California’s 6th District Rep Ami Bera said it’s not right that Congress members get their salary while troops and federal workers are forced to work without pay.In a letter to House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor, Bera wrote, “I have been informed that Members of Congress will continue receiving their salary despite the current federal government shutdown. Members of Congress should be treated just like all other federal workers and servicemembers forced to go without a paycheck.”“Please withhold my pay until an agreement to reopen the government is signed into law.”“Today, I formally requested that my pay be withheld until the federal government reopens. While our troops and federal workers are forced to work without pay during a shutdown, Members of Congress still get paid. That’s not right,” Bera wrote on X
Is the government still shut down? When will it reopen?
The federal government has shut down for the first time since 2018 just after midnight on Wednesday, as Senate Republicans and Democrats could not pass funding bills at the last moment. The shutdown could extend for days and weeks. The last shutdown in 2018 was the longest, lasting 34 weeks.
