UNITED STATES - APRIL 10: Ranking member Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks during the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing on the "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Department of Homeland Security," in Rayburn building on …
WASHINGTON - Rep. Henry Cuellar on Thursday said he would refuse his congressional paycheck as a show of solidarity with his constituents in the 28th Congressional District of Texas.
The Democratic congressman made the announcement on X as the Senate rejected two bills that would pay federal workers during the government shutdown, which began Oct. 1.
What they're saying:
"15,000 families in our community are missing paychecks because of the shutdown," Cuellar said on X. "I’m standing with them and refusing mine. I’m ready to reopen the government but not by hurting working people and driving up costs."
Government Shutdown reaches 23 days
With the government shutdown reaching 23 days, Democrats have said they will not vote to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Republicans say they will not negotiate on those subsidies until Democrats vote to reopen the government.
As the impasse continues, most federal workers are set to miss paychecks over the next week.
What to know about SNAP benefits as government shutdown continues
The USDA warned SNAP benefits for November could be delayed if the government shutdown continues.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that his message to air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is "come to work, even if you do not get a paycheck."
Duffy said that air traffic controllers will miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday and that some are having to make choices to pay the mortgage and other bills, at times by taking a second job.
"I cannot guarantee you your flight is going to be on time. I cannot guarantee your flight is not going to be canceled," Duffy said.
Payments for federal food and heating assistance could also run out soon, several states have warned.
Approval rating of Congress declines
A new poll from Gallup shows Americans’ approval rating of Congress has dropped to the teens, declining 11 percentage points to 15%, similar to approval a year ago. Nearly four in five U.S. adults, 79%, now disapprove.
New poll shows how Americans feel about Congress, Trump during government shutdown
A new Gallup poll shows how Americans feel about Congress as the government shutdown enters its third week.
The 11-point drop is owed largely to a sharp decline among Republicans and, to a lesser degree, independents. Amid the government shutdown, Republicans’ approval sunk 21 points, and independents’ was down nine points. At 7% last month, Democrats’ approval of the Republican-controlled 119th Congress had little room to fall and fell to 5%.
The Source: Information on Rep. Cuellar's decision to refuse his paycheck comes from a post on X. Information on the Senate failing to pass two funding bills comes from the Associated Press. Information on the latest Gallup poll comes from previous FOX reporting.