Andy Biggs, Eli Crane Refuse Pay During Government Shutdown

Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Eli Crane (R-AZ) are the latest Republicans to refuse their Congressional salaries during the government shutdown, which began Wednesday, October 1st at midnight.

As Cactus Politics previously covered, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) was the first of a growing number of Congress members to request that their pay be withheld until the government is reopened.

Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) followed suit, announcing he would refuse his salary in a gesture of solidarity with "our troops, border agents, and air traffic controllers."

"If our troops, border agents, and air traffic controllers aren't paid in a shutdown, Congress shouldn't get paid either. I'll withhold my pay. Period," Rep. Ciscomani shared, later criticizing Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for suggesting he would continue to receive payment during the shutdown.

Ciscomani scrutinized Sen. Gallego's response as "typical behavior of the D.C. ruling class."

Rep. Biggs has since announced his own pay suspension on X, writing, "members of Congress are no more important than American citizens."

"I'm asking for my pay to be withheld until the Democrats come to their senses and reopen the federal government," Rep. Biggs continued. "Many congressional Republicans made the same request. Our Democrat colleagues can't say the same."

Similarly, Rep. Crane expressed that he would support a Constitutional amendment introduced by Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC), which would dock lawmakers' pay during a shutdown without backpay.

On social media, Rep. Norman wrote, "during shutdowns, federal workers are told to 'do more with less.' Meanwhile, Congress still cashes paychecks. That's wrong."

"I've reintroduced an Amendment to end Member pay during shutdowns. Zero. No back pay either!!" Rep. Norman added.

In response, Rep. Crane wrote that, "members of Congress shouldn't get paid during a shutdown. Shouldn't get back pay either. I've signed on to this effort."