Rep. Chip Roy asks that his pay be withheld during a government shutdown

EXCLUSIVE — On Friday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) asked the chief administrative officer of the House to withhold his pay during the impending government shutdown.

During a government shutdown, federal employees are not paid. Some are furloughed and then receive back pay, while others who are deemed “essential employees” must work without being paid and then also receive back pay.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: IF WASHINGTON CLOSES, IT COULD COST THE GOP IN VIRGINIA

“Due to the failure of this God forsaken town to address either its spending addiction or the manmade crisis at our southern border, a partial federal shutdown now seems inevitable,” Roy said in a statement. “Therefore I will be instructing the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to withhold my pay until an acceptable appropriations agreement is reached.”

But constitutionally, members of Congress continue receiving a paycheck during the shutdown. In light of this, Roy sent a letter to Catherine Szpindor, the chief administrative officer, asking that his pay be withheld during a shutdown.

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

“I have been informed that despite a lapse of appropriations and current government shutdown, Members of Congress will continue receiving their salary,” Roy’s letter reads. “Please withhold my pay until an appropriations agreement has taken effect.”

However, it is unclear if Roy has the authority to reject being paid as lawmakers’ salaries are determined by law and cannot be waived or changed. According to the Congressional Research Service, members must receive pay during a shutdown, but nothing stops them from “accepting the salary and then, as several have done, donate part or all of it back to the United States Treasury.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

During the most recent government shutdown in 2019, over 100 members of Congress sought to refuse their paychecks while others announced they would donate their pay instead.

Congress has until Saturday to pass all 12 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution. If they fail to do so, the government will run out of money and shut down until a deal is made. The House has passed four appropriations bills, but a continuing resolution failed on the floor earlier on Friday. The Senate has yet to pass any appropriations bills.