Is There a Pay Raise for Congress in the Stimulus Bill? Separating Fact from Fiction

In March 2020 as COVID-19 disrupted lives and livelihoods across America Congress passed a historically massive $2 trillion stimulus package called the CARES Act. With so much money on the line, it didn’t take long for rumors to spread about Congress enriching themselves in the process.

Specifically social media erupted with claims that Congress was including a big pay raise or bonus for themselves in the coronavirus relief legislation. Are these explosive allegations true or just misinformation? Let’s dig into the facts.

Understanding the Controversy

In March 2020, posts started emerging on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms saying that Congress gave themselves raises and bonuses in the CARES Act stimulus package. Some of the key allegations included:

• Congress getting raises of $25 million or $46,000 each
• House members voting against Social Security increases but for their own raises
• Stimulus providing $1,200 to citizens but much more to Congress

These kinds of posts understandably provoked instant outrage. Over 30 million Americans were out of work because of COVID-19, so the idea of politicians getting rich seemed crazy.

The question is whether the rumors are true or not. Always look beyond what people say on social media and find out the facts.

Analyzing the CARES Act Language

The best way to determine if Congress gave themselves raises in the stimulus is to read the legislation. First, it’s important to understand just how massive the CARES Act is at over 800 pages. Out of the $2 trillion in spending, there is a $25 million allocation to support House operations during the pandemic.

This money covers things like expanding technical capabilities for remote work and tele-town halls. It also provides funding for sanitation, transportation, equipment purchases and other House administrative needs during the crisis.

The CARES Act does include money for “salaries and expenses,” but Congress made it clear that this can’t be used for member salaries, which are set by law. According to the Constitution, changes in congressional pay can’t happen until after the next election.

Further, House appropriators confirmed that any use of the $25 million for congressional staff pay would require explicit approval, which is unlikely.

Why the Confusion?

So if the facts show there is no pay raise or bonus for Congress in the CARES Act, how did this false claim go so viral?

There are a few likely reasons the misinformation spread quickly:

• The bill is extremely long, making it hard to analyze
• People are understandably suspicious of Congress
• It reinforces notions of government corruption
• Facts spread slower than sensational claims
• Strong emotional and psychological appeal

Bad actors also deliberately misrepresent things to stoke outrage and division. The bottom line is that objective analysis is needed more than ever.

What is Congressional Pay?

To further debunk the myth, it helps to understand what Congress makes already. Currently, rank and file members receive a salary of $174,000. Leadership earns slightly more:

• Speaker of the House – $223,500
• House/Senate Leaders – $193,400
• President Pro Tempore of Senate – $193,400

These amounts are set by statute and any changes come through automatic cost-of-living adjustments, not additional legislation. For 2020, Congress actually voted to block an expected 2.6% raise.

So while $174,000 is significantly higher than average American incomes, the idea that Congress gave themselves anywhere near $46,000 raises or monthly bonuses of $8,000 is completely fabricated.

What are the Facts?

• The CARES Act provided $25 million to support House operations during COVID-19
• This included funding for remote work capabilities and other administrative needs
• Language allows money to be used for “salaries and expenses”
• But this cannot be used to give raises/bonuses to members of Congress
• Any use for staff pay would need explicit approval, which is unlikely
• Congressional salaries are set by existing statute, not new legislation
• Claims of huge raises or bonuses for Congress in the stimulus package are verifiably FALSE

While people are right to keep government accountable, false allegations only serve to misinform and divide at a time when national unity is needed most. Maintaining trust requires transparency, facts and critical thinking—especially in an era of rapid-fire misinformation through social media.

What Can You Do?

• Read primary sources instead of relying only on social media posts or word of mouth. In this case, read summaries of the actual CARES Act.

• Consult non-partisan fact-checking sites like Snopes, Politifact, FactCheck.org to verify claims.

• Ask for sources and evidence from those making controversial allegations.

• Review legislative text directly when possible. Having the right tools makes fact-checking easier.

• Don’t spread claims without doing your own thorough verification, no matter how juicy they seem.

• Correct others who share misinformation by politely providing facts and sources. Fight bad information with good information.

With a few simple steps, everyone can improve dialogue and debate by focusing on facts, not rumors or inflammatory falsehoods. Don’t just be skeptical—demand evidence. Truth matters, now more than ever.