Did Congress Give Themselves a Pay Raise in the Stimulus Bill? The Truth Behind the Claims

Let’s cut straight to the chase – NO, Congress did NOT give itself a pay raise in the COVID-19 stimulus bill. Despite what you might have seen circulating on social media, this claim is completely false. But with so many people believing this misinformation, it’s worth taking a deeper look at where this rumor came from and what the stimulus bill actually included.

The Viral Claim That Wouldn’t Die

You’ve probably seen posts claiming something like “Congress wants $25 million for raises That’s $46,700 each” or “House members gave themselves an extra $8,000 a month instead of helping seniors” These posts spread like wildfire across Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms, getting shared over 140,000 times!

As someone who’s spent way too much time reading through boring government documents (so you don’t have to!), I can tell you with 100% certainty – these claims are completely bogus.

What the CARES Act Actually Said About Congressional Funding

The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law back in March 2020. This massive legislation provided over $2 trillion in economic relief to address the COVID-19 pandemic Within its 800+ pages, there was indeed a provision related to Congress, but it wasn’t what the rumors claimed.

Section 19017 of the bill stated

“There is appropriated…$25,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2021, for necessary expenses of the House of Representatives to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus…”

But this money wasn’t for pay raises! It was allocated to help the House of Representatives adapt its operations during the pandemic. Think about it – Congress had to suddenly shift to remote work like many of us did. They needed:

• Video conferencing systems
• Additional laptops and IT equipment
• Enhanced remote work capabilities
• Customer support improvements
• Safety measures for essential on-site staff

The Senate received similar funding for the same purposes. None of this money was designated for increasing lawmaker salaries.

Why It’s Literally Impossible for Congress to Sneak in a Pay Raise

Even if they wanted to (and let’s be real, who wouldn’t want a pay raise?), Congress actually can’t give themselves an immediate salary bump. Here’s why:

1. The 27th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits any changes to congressional pay from taking effect until after the next election. This amendment was specifically designed to prevent Congress from giving themselves immediate raises.

2. Congressional salaries are set by formula – Since 1989, salaries for members of Congress have been adjusted annually based on changes in private sector wages. This removes Congress’s discretion in the matter.

3. The bill text never mentioned salaries – I’ve read it, fact-checkers have read it, and there’s simply no provision about congressional pay in the stimulus bill.

4. House staff publicly confirmed that none of the funds would go to lawmaker pay.

How Much Do Members of Congress Actually Make?

Just for context, most senators and House members earn $174,000 per year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Leadership positions like the Speaker of the House earn more.

While that’s certainly a good salary (about 3 times the median US household income), it hasn’t changed much in recent years. Congress has actually frozen their own pay several times, declining automatic adjustments that would have increased their salaries.

Why Did So Many People Believe the Misinformation?

So if the claim was clearly false, why did so many people believe and share it? There are a few reasons:

1. General distrust of politicians – Let’s face it, Congress doesn’t exactly have a stellar approval rating. When people already believe politicians are self-serving, they’re quick to believe accusations of self-dealing.

2. The bill was massive and complex – At over 800 pages, very few people actually read the CARES Act in its entirety. This made it easy for misinterpretations to spread.

3. Media coverage was inconsistent – Early reporting didn’t always comprehensively debunk the claim, allowing the rumor to persist.

4. Social media confirmation bias – We tend to believe (and share) information that confirms our existing worldview, regardless of whether it’s true.

5. Political motivations – Some sources continued circulating the misinformation for political purposes.

What DID Congress Get in the Stimulus Package?

While they didn’t get pay raises, the House and Senate together received about $35 million from the stimulus. This money went toward:

• Keeping Capitol Police and child care workers employed
• Setting up remote work infrastructure
• Ensuring essential government functions could continue safely
• Covering increased cleaning and sanitation costs
• Providing protective equipment for essential staff

These expenditures were necessary operational costs, not personal enrichment for lawmakers.

Recent Claims About Congressional Pay Raises

It’s worth noting that similar false claims have continued to circulate about subsequent legislation. For example, in late 2024, viral posts falsely claimed that a bipartisan stopgap spending bill included a 40% pay raise for Congress. This claim was also debunked by Reuters fact-checkers.

The persistence of these rumors highlights how easily misinformation can spread when it aligns with existing suspicions about government officials.

Why Correcting This Misinformation Matters

You might be thinking, “Who cares? Politicians are overpaid anyway!” But accurate information about how our government spends money is crucial for a functioning democracy.

When we believe false claims about legislation, we:

1. Misdirect our legitimate concerns and criticisms
2. Undermine trust in necessary government functions
3. Make it harder to hold officials accountable for actual problems
4. Contribute to a political environment based on emotions rather than facts

How to Verify Claims About Legislation Yourself

Next time you see a shocking claim about Congress or legislation on social media, consider:

1. Check reliable fact-checking sites like Reuters, FactCheck.org, or Snopes
2. Look for primary sources – actual bill text is usually available online
3. Watch for red flags like very emotional language or claims that seem designed to provoke outrage
4. Consider who benefits from spreading the information

The Real Issues With Congressional Compensation

While the pay raise rumor was false, there are legitimate discussions to be had about how we compensate our elected officials:

• Should congressional pay be higher to attract top talent from various backgrounds?
• Should it be lower to reflect public service rather than financial gain?
• Should pay be tied to performance metrics or constituent satisfaction?
• How do we ensure economic diversity in Congress when running for office is expensive?

These are complex questions worthy of thoughtful debate – but we can only have that debate when we’re working from accurate information.

The Bottom Line

To sum it all up: No, Congress did NOT give itself a pay raise in the stimulus bill. The funding allocated to the House and Senate was for operational costs to maintain essential functions during the pandemic.

While distrust of government is sometimes warranted, it’s important that we base our criticisms on facts rather than rumors. By taking the time to verify claims before sharing them, we can all contribute to a healthier political discourse.

Remember, an informed citizenry is necessary for a functional democracy. Let’s make sure we’re informed with accurate information, not viral falsehoods.

What other government rumors have you heard that deserve a closer look? I’d be happy to dig into those in future articles!

The base annual salary for a U.S. Representative or Senator is $174,000. This salary has been frozen since 2009, meaning there have been no cost-of-living adjustments applied.