Bynum Requests Her Pay Be Withheld During Shutdown

Image October 2, 2025 Press Release Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) sent a letter to the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives requesting that her Congressional salary be withheld for the duration of the shutdown. “I do not think it would be right for me to continue to be paid while many public servants in Oregon are not receiving their salaries through no fault of their own. Until Congress reaches a bipartisan resolution to this impasse, one that makes whole the workers I represent in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, and fully reopens the government, I firmly believe that Member pay should be withheld,” wrote Rep. Bynum . “Washington’s dysfunction is unacceptable, and Oregonians have had enough. Until both parties come to the table, do their job, and reopen the government, Members of Congress should not receive pay.” Full text of the letter can be found here and below: Dear Ms. Szpindor, While the federal government continues to experience a shutdown, I request that you withhold my pay as a Member of Congress. Members of Congress should play by the same rules as the people they represent. I do not think it would be right for me to continue to be paid while many public servants in Oregon are not receiving their salaries through no fault of their own. Until Congress reaches a bipartisan resolution to this impasse, one that makes whole the workers I represent in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, and fully reopens the government, I firmly believe that Member pay should be withheld. Washington’s dysfunction is unacceptable, and Oregonians have had enough. Until both parties come to the table, do their job, and reopen the government, Members of Congress should not receive pay. I respectfully ask that you withhold my pay until an agreement to reopen the government is signed into law. ### Issues : Congress