Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, announced on Thursday he is voluntarily refusing to accept his salary during the partial government shutdown that has caused significant hardship for millions of Americans.
In remarks, Husted stated he is taking a stand in contrast to Democrats who continue collecting paychecks while federal workers face financial strain.
“Democrat senators continue to get paid. I’m not taking pay — I voluntarily am not taking pay,” Husted said, emphasizing the challenges faced by frontline workers including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, Coast Guard members, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees.
The shutdown, now nearing six weeks, has disrupted operations across the Department of Homeland Security and left thousands without pay. Reports indicate TSA agents are skipping meals and even sleeping in their cars as the standoff continues.
Husted blamed Senate Democrats for repeatedly blocking funding measures passed by House Republicans. “There was a bipartisan bill that came over from the House to fund DHS. Senate Democrats are blocking a vote on it. They blocked it seven times,” he said.
According to Husted, the core issue is immigration enforcement. He argued Democrats are refusing to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even rejecting compromise proposals that would fund other DHS components without ICE provisions.
“They don’t want immigration laws enforced in this country,” Husted stated, adding that Democrats have been “completely unwilling to rationally, reasonably negotiate.”
The Ohio senator stressed that Republicans are focused on restoring security and addressing the consequences of what he described as years of failed border policies under the Biden administration. “We’ve got to clean it up,” he said, pointing to crimes committed by illegal immigrants as part of the broader urgency to fully fund DHS operations.
With negotiations stalled and a two-week congressional recess approaching, Husted indicated Republicans are exploring alternative legislative options, including reconciliation, to bypass Democrat resistance and restore funding.
“It is time for this to come to an end,” he added.
Beyond the shutdown, Husted also addressed concerns over social media’s impact on children. He referenced Wednesday’s court ruling in California that held tech companies accountable for harmful content and highlighted his bipartisan proposal, “Sammy’s Law.” The bill would give parents more control over what their children see online and require platforms to ensure age-appropriate content.
“Parents should be in charge, not algorithms,” Husted said.
