Term limits, absolute YES.
There have been several attempts to pass laws to prevent payment during a shutdown, or reaching the debt ceiling, but since the people voting on limiting their pay are the same people getting the pay cut, obviously the went nowhere. One note of interest, at least one of them does not cut the pay, it just holds the amount until the end of the term or session, they still get paid, just not during the shutdown. I believe it is just like most of the Federal employees who are not getting paid now.
May 2023 - “https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3538/text” H.R.3538 - No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act
March 2025 - In the House - “Vindman, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Block Congressional Pay During Defaults or Shutdowns | Representative Eugene Vindman
Jan. 2025 - “https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/88/all-info#cosponsors-content” - All Information (Except Text) for S.88 - No Budget, No Pay Act
Oct. 2025 - 6 days ago - Bill above received new co-sponsors - “Husted backs bill to prohibit member pay during government shutdown - Senator Husted
If congress shut down for 30 days, each member would lose about $14,500 ($174,000 per year / 12).
The top 394 members have a net worth of over half a million dollars not counting the value of their primary residence. The top 332 over a million. $14,500 is pocket change to most of them.
We need something that hurts them, like if you do not pass a budget in time, you are prevented from holding any Federal off in the future, or you permanently lose all Federal benefits. Something substantial. But again, the people voting on the rule are the people punished by the rule. It will never happen.