The U.S. Senate is finally getting a little taste of its own medicine ... 'cause they’ll now lose their paychecks during future government shutdowns too.
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Thursday blocking senators from getting paid when the federal government shuts down ... basically turning the heat back on lawmakers after federal workers got screwed during past standoffs -- particularly this most recent one, the longest yet.
Republican Senatorfrom Louisiana John Kennedy -- who pushed the measure -- called it a "shared sacrifice," according to the Associated Press ... after thousands of workers were left unpaid during recent impasses, including a 43-day shutdown in October 2025, and then another this year's partial shutdown that lasted 73 days, until a sudden agreement in April.
Dems and Republicans have shown they are not capable of compromise when it comes to funding the Dept. of Homeland Security -- which is why thousands of workers are not getting paid -- so we decided to put something on the table so these workers can put food on theirs.
Jacob ran into Rep. Ritchie Torres late Tuesday on Capitol Hill, and he played "Let's Make a Deal" ... suggesting a compromise ... fund all of DHS, including ICE, with the proviso that ICE agents could not wear masks and they'd have to get search warrants.
True, it's not everything Dems want, and Republicans might wince ... but at least it's a compromise to fund DHS, and they could work out other details later.
Buy her some peanuts and Cracker Jack ... Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit up a New York Yankees game Sunday as the second week of Congress' paid vacation gets underway ... while thousands of federal workers are still going unpaid.
Check out these photos of AOC at the Yankees home game Sunday afternoon against the visiting Miami Marlins ... the Congresswoman from New York is smiling in a bunch of selfies snapped by folks who ran into her at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
11:20 AM PT -- BTW ... Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed just four years ago that Disney had gone too woke -- and, he wouldn't "be going back or watching Disney+ anytime soon."
Unclear what changed -- but it seems the senator came to an understanding with Mickey and decided he wanted to be part of his world again.
Rick Scott pulled a pretty good c**k block, posting a pic of his family having a good ol' time at Disney World in Florida and challenging TMZ for posting pics of members of Congress on vacay while thousands of federal workers go unpaid. Well, challenge accepted.
Scott posted the pic of him, his wife Ann, and their granddaughter at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios.
Rep.Seth Magaziner understands concerns about the bad optics of him hosting a 'Real Housewives' premiere party during the government shutdown ... but he's laying blame on the guy who sent the House of Representatives packing for this two-week recess.
The Congressman from Rhode Island joined us Friday on "TMZ Live," and pointed a finger at House Speaker Mike Johnson, saying he never should have sent everyone home without voting on a bill to end the partial shutdown ... which, of course, has thousands of federal employees working without pay.
It's something we've heard a lot recently from Congress members -- the Democrats, at least -- that it's all Johnson's fault, and while there may be some truth there ... we're thinking BOTH parties should wear the stalemate, because THEY aren't doing their jobs.
Rep. Jim McGovern has boots on the ground in Washington D.C. -- he's there hoping to vote on a bill to end the government shutdown, but says Capitol Hill is a ghost town ... so, he's taking shots at Lindsey Graham.
The Congressman from Massachusetts joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live," and told us Speaker Mike Johnson needs to call the House back from their 2-week spring break, so they can fund the government.
Problem is, there ain't exactly a lot of other lawmakers in town ... we've seen them enjoying the recess in places like West Hollywood, Las Vegas, Scotland and Disney World.
🎶 Aruba, Jamaica ... ooh, Rep. John James wants to take himself to a secluded island during his 2-week recess as the government shutdown drags on -- but we found him anyway!
The Congressman from Michigan is down in Turks & Caicos, where he was photographed Wednesday. Our sources tell us he's down in the Caribbean for a family vacay ... he looked to be enjoying a meal with his wife, Elizabeth.
Distill Social, a grassroots Michigan outlet, first posted the shot of JJ's getaway ... which, of course, comes as thousands of government workers would love to be on island time -- if only they were getting paid!
Senator Cory Booker is more than 2,000 miles from work, chillin' at a swanky L.A. hotel for a little breakfast.
The New Jersey Senator was hanging with his wife at the restaurant inside The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. They were photographed around 9:30 AM Thursday, and it looks like they may have finished a workout.
The hotel is one of L.A.'s finest, fit certainly for a Senator who is on his Spring Break.
2:40 PM PT -- We've ID'd another legislator in the Edinburgh Castle crowd ... Michigan's Rep. Bill Huizenga is the guy in the blue jacket sitting against the wall. His spokesman told local outlet, Michigan Advance, what we'd already heard about this being a "long-planned, House Ethics-approved" trip to meet with foreign dignitaries. They left out the part about YOU paying for it, while the partial government shutdown continues.
Over two dozen members of Congress are on an overseas trip during the government shutdown ... and it's all being paid for by taxpayers while tons of federal workers go unpaid with rent due.
We've learned a whopping 30 members of Congress are on a trip to Scotland right now, and it's being funded with our tax dollars ... despite the partial government shutdown triggered by Congress failing to do its job. Now all of them have bailed and are enjoying a 2-week Spring Break. Employees of FEMA, the Coast Guard, and other agencies are not as lucky -- they're worrying about putting food on their table and keeping a roof over their heads.
BTW ... members of Congress continue to draw a paycheck, uninterrupted.
Congressman Jared Moskowitz and his colleagues are getting a shakeup ... he admits most of them don't see enough incentive to end the government shutdown, but he also knows if they don't, it might be "Out With Their Asses!"
The Representative from Florida joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live," and we asked him about the stalemate on funding DHS, the federal employees working without pay and struggling to make ends meet ... all while Congress enjoys a 2-week recess.
Moskowitz -- who's spent part of his break working the scoreboard at his son's youth basketball game -- told us members of Congress are worried about getting primaried, so they don't want to give in to the opposing party.
In other words, both sides are only concerned with themselves ... not the livelihoods of hard working Americans.
Congressman Jared Moskowitz played Father Time at his son's basketball game Tuesday, as federal workers were running out of time to thwart bill collectors.
The Representative from Florida was the timekeeper at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Fla. ... as his 12-year-old son played hoops against another pint-sized team in a playoff game.
Moskowitz had double duty -- keeping time AND handling the scoreboard. He was true to form -- what with Congress's bad timing, taking a 2-week Spring Break after failing to reopen the government -- he messed up the clock by neglecting at one point to hit the start button. We're told members of both teams yelled at him to DO HIS JOB!
4/1 8:52 AM -- A spokesperson for Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden tells TMZ ... "DVO is joining more than 30 other members of Congress on a delegation that was pre-approved by the House Ethics Committee months ago. The trip focuses on economic development, foreign partnerships, and business engagement, including meetings with members of Parliament and other international officials."
This means the trip is being funded by the government ... aka, you're paying for it.
Pack your kilts, 'cause a few members of Congress are takin' in the sights of Scotland!
Two sources who work on The Hill were at the Edinburgh Castle when they spotted the members in a group that was taking a tour. They say they believe the members are part of a Congressional Delegation (CODEL), adding that it's curious, because they say CODELS are usually canceled when there's even a partial government shutdown.
U.S. Congressman Seth Magaziner is busy putting the finishing touches on his 'Real Housewives of Rhode Island' watch party ... but says he'd happily skip it, if called back to DC to end the government shutdown.
Rep. Magaziner finally addressed the controversial party he's co-hosting Thursday for the Bravo show's premiere ... an event that's going down as thousands of federal employees aren't getting paid due to the shutdown.
His spokesperson told WPRI ... Magaziner's been pushing for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to call the House of Representatives back into session to pass the bill, which would partly fund the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate signed off on last week.
TMZ's call for pics of Congress members on spring break is nonpartisan, and even though Rep. Rich McCormick does think one party's more responsible for the shutdown ... he's also seen enough in DC to get why voters are fed up.
The U.S. Congressman from Georgia joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live," and he went back and forth with Harvey Levin on what compromises both sides of the aisle should be willing to make to strike a deal to end the current shutdown.
Rich eventually concedes ... but says even if he runs our suggestions up the flagpole, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will instantly reject them.
It ain't Cancun, but it's close ... Ted Cruz was spotted at the Ft. Lauderdale airport Tuesday, days after Congress threw up its collective hands and left for Spring Break.
The Senator from Texas has been hopscotching around the country since leaving D.C., first to Houston, then to Dallas where he went to the CPAC convention, then he found his way to South Florida.
Check out the security with Ted ... 4 cops and some dude with a lapel pin ... all covering him.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner's leaving political drama behind during his 2-week vacay, and he's replacing it with some good old-fashioned reality TV drama ... partial government shutdown be damned!
The Congressman from Rhode Island announced last week he'll cohost a watch party for "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island" -- the newest edition of the long-running Bravo franchise -- when the show premieres April 2.
Rhode Island State Rep. Jackie Baginski and State Sen. Hanna Gallo are cohosting the evening, which will feature hors d'oeuvres, specialty cocktails and door prizes.
