U.S. Senator Ted Cruz , R-Texas, has asked for his salary to be withheld until the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is over.
“Due to the Democrat’s [sic] Shutdown, I’ve asked the Financial Clerk of the Senate to hold my salary,” Cruz tweeted Tuesday. To prove he’d actually done that, he even attached an image of the letter he sent to Senate Financial Clerk Ted Ruckner on his very own senatorial letterhead.
In the letter, Cruz advised Ruckner to hold his salary check “for pickup” until the shutdown ends.
So don’t lay laurel leaves at the feet of the self-denying senator just yet. He isn’t turning down a paycheck, just waiting to pick it up.
Performative? Yep. Pointless? You bet.
But remember Cruz is reportedly hoping to run for president (again). So he’s likely looking to score some martyrdom points with the base — and hoping that they remember his immeasurable sacrifice in 2028.
According to financial data aggregator Quiver Quantitative, Cruz has a net worth of $11.3 million, as of February 2026. However will he manage to go a few weeks without pay?
Cruz made a similar request to temporarily withhold his pay during last fall’s government shutdown, which lasted 43 days — the longest in history.
Back the present, though: Cruz has led recent Republican efforts to reopen the the government, since Democrats refuse to back a funding package until the administration agrees to reforms of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those include judicial warrant requirements, a universal code of conduct and a ban on agents wearing masks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continues to insist that Democrats’ reform demands be met before any funding deal is approved.
“You know what we’ve called for all along,” Schumer said during a Tuesday press conference, reported on by The Hill. “I’m not going to get into specifics, but we need strong, strong reforms and we need to rein in ICE. We’ve been consistent in what we’ve been asking for from the get-go.”
Over the weekend, Cruz suggested a two-step approach to passing the funding measure.
The strategy would entail breaking off funding for ICE and CBP from the main bill and passing their funding later through the reconciliation process. Since reconciliation only requires a simple majority to pass, funding ICE and CBP wouldn’t require votes from Democrats.
In addition to ICE and CBP, DHS funding covers other agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Staffing shortages due to a lapse in wages at TSA have resulted in long lines and headaches at airport security points across the country, adding several hours onto the check-in process for travelers.
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