Topic: Politics
by MPeriod
Posted 9 months ago
Elon Musk recently proposed that politicians could see pay raises. This suggestion came as significant job cuts occurred in the federal workforce due to downsizing efforts by the Trump administration. Thousands of probationary employees were affected as part of the initiative.
Musk, who is a senior adviser to Trump, suggested that increasing salaries for Congress members and senior government personnel could help reduce corruption. He stated that higher salaries could minimize costs for the public, as corruption could be far more expensive. Currently, members of Congress earn an annual salary of $174,000 and have not received a raise since 2009.
A Congressional spending bill introduced last December proposed a pay increase. However, Musk and Trump opposed this, which led to its failure in the House. Musk expressed concerns on X about how the proposal would stand as a “continuing resolution” given a suggested 40% compensation increase for Congress members.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the maximum potential pay raise for Congress in 2025 could be 3.8%, translating to an increase of $6,600, bringing their salaries to $180,600.
Reactions among lawmakers about the proposed pay hike have been mixed. New York Congress member Pat Ryan stated, “I cannot and will not vote to give myself more money when my constituents are feeling unbelievable financial pressure.” He emphasized that Congress should prioritize lowering costs for Americans instead of granting raises.
Georgia Republican Rep. Austin Scott argued that such proposals undermine democracy, as they make it difficult for middle-class Americans to serve in Congress. Similarly, New York Rep. Richie Torres acknowledged that members of Congress are also affected by inflation, saying, "It turns out that members of Congress are subject to the impact of inflation as well — who would have thought?"