Why Not Garnish Lawmakers’ Income During a Shutdown?

When Congress fails to pass a budget, the government shuts down. Millions of Americans lose paychecks or get sent home without knowing when they’ll return. But the people responsible — members of Congress — keep getting paid. Their campaign ads still run. Their donors keep donating. Their stock portfolios keep growing.

Why not change that?

If lawmakers can’t keep the government open, every form of their income — salary, campaign funds, speaking fees, investment gains (realized or not) — should be subject to automatic garnishment until the shutdown ends. The proceeds would go directly to pay essential federal workers who must keep working without pay: air traffic controllers, TSA agents, border staff, medical researchers, food inspectors.

We already garnish wages for unpaid taxes or child support. Why not apply the same principle to the people who cause financial harm to millions of others through political gridlock?

Imagine if, during a shutdown, congressional paychecks and campaign accounts were drained first to keep the lights on. If every day of delay meant watching their own net worth shrink, lawmakers might suddenly discover the art of compromise.

It’s simple accountability. If politicians want to hold the country hostage for leverage, they should be the first to feel the cost — not the last.

Why should public servants be immune from the pain they inflict on everyone else?

Why not make them live — and pay — by their own shutdown?