Wichita Standard

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) has asked that his congressional salary be withheld during the ongoing government shutdown, which he attributes to actions by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and other Democratic lawmakers. Estes stated that Democrats refused to vote for a funding bill they had previously supported under the last administration. He made a similar request to withhold his pay during the 2019 government shutdown.

In a letter addressed to Mrs. Szpindor, Estes wrote: "I have been informed that despite a lapse of appropriations and current government shutdown, Members of Congress will continue receiving their salary. Please withhold my net pay until an appropriations agreement has taken effect."

Estes represents Kansas’ 4th district in the U.S. Congress, having replaced Mike Pompeo in 2017. He was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1956 and currently lives in Wichita. Estes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University.