All members of Congress, including the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as any governmental employees associated with these representatives and the broader administration—including personnel from all federal agencies—will have their compensation linked directly to the median household income of the average American worker. This approach aims to align public sector salaries with the economic realities faced by the constituents they serve.
This proposal outlines a potential reallocation of funds to support “essential workers” employed by the government. Currently, congressional compensation totals approximately $93.625 million, complemented by an additional allocation of around $2 million per year for House office staff. Meanwhile, the Senate’s total compensation amounts to roughly $17.4 million annually, with an average office budget for senators near $5 million.
By aligning these expenditures with the median household income, there is an opportunity to reduce the combined spending for both the House and Senate, including their staff, to approximately $55 million. This adjustment would represent a significant reduction in public expenditures while still providing necessary resources for congressional operations.
Following this adjustment, the residual funds, estimated at approximately $62.5 million, can be strategically directed towards servicing the national debt or allocated to remunerating essential personnel, including those in the energy sector, healthcare professionals, and emergency responders.
This proposal mandates that both the House and Senate critically reassess policies influencing the median household income. The alignment of legislative compensation with the median household income creates a direct incentive for lawmakers to prioritize economic conditions. If the median income experiences a decline, legislative salaries will also be adversely affected; conversely, an increase in median income will lead to higher salaries for lawmakers. Oversight of this mechanism will be conducted by a dedicated committee within the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be responsible for analyzing income data and facilitating the reallocation of funds from the legislative branch back to constituents.
This proposal aims to prohibit any legislative expenditure allocated for travel abroad by legislative members, as well as any expenditures exceeding the resources earmarked for their compensation.
The state legislative branches will remain unaffected, preserving their autonomy for state representatives. However, all aspects of federal representation will be subject to the proposed changes.
The proposed changes would be implemented uniformly across all federal agencies. However, compensation rates may vary by agency, as certain federal employees—such as those in the Secret Service and FBI—command higher salaries due to the inherent challenges and risks associated with their roles.