The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a measure that would suspend senators' pay during any future government shutdowns, aligning themselves with federal workers who miss paychecks when the government closes.

The decision passed by unanimous consent, meaning no vote was needed. It follows the longest government shutdown on record, during which federal workers went unpaid for months while U.S. lawmakers continued to receive their salaries amid a slow-moving effort to reopen the government — drawing sharp public criticism.