Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) supported a bill to lower Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin‘s salary to a mere $1 amid the pursuit to prevent a government shutdown.
What Happened: Golden, a centrist Democrat known for defying party lines, defended his vote, stating, “I doubt Lloyd Austin’s spending much time thinking about that. If he is, then he shouldn’t be in that position,” he told Insider.
“I’m not particularly concerned about him,” said Golden. “It’s public service, I don’t think he does it based upon the size of the paycheck that he receives.”
The salary reduction was part of a Republican-led defense spending bill that passed the House on Thursday. This bill aims to fund the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2024, but it is unlikely to become law in its current state.
The wage cut was introduced through an amendment by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Greene cited the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and military COVID vaccine mandates as reasons for her amendment.
Why It Matters: Despite the unlikelihood of the bill becoming law, all but two Republicans voted for it. They were joined by two Democrats, Golden and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).
The pair also supported the House Republicans’ iteration of the National Defense Authorization Act, a distinct legislation related to the military. This bill contained clauses related to the instruction of racial issues and healthcare for transgender individuals serving in the military.
The Defense Secretary currently earns over $235,000. Golden previously voted against a waiver allowing Austin, a former active-duty military member, to serve as Secretary of Defense.
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