Congressional Pay Raise Claim Misrepresented as 40% Increase

Proposed continuing resolution includes a 3.8% salary adjustment for lawmakers, not the widely circulated 40% figure.

Social media claims about a 40% congressional pay raise in the 2024 continuing resolution have been debunked; the actual proposed increase is 3.8%.
If approved, the raise would adjust lawmakers' salaries from $174,000 to $180,600, marking the first adjustment since 2009.
The 40% figure originated from a misrepresentation of a Congressional Research Service report, which referenced hypothetical pay adjustments since 1992.
Criticism of the raise has emerged from both voters and lawmakers, with some arguing it is undeserved, while others note it could help attract and retain qualified public servants.
The fate of the continuing resolution, which includes the pay adjustment, remains uncertain as lawmakers face a Friday deadline to avoid a government shutdown.