When the federal government shut down in October, 244 members of Congress pledged to donate their salaries, and at least 116 actually followed through on the promise, according to the Washington Post.
Politicians donated a total of about $495,000, much of it going to charities, with only about $87,000 actually returned to the federal government.
The Post reached out to all members who said they would donate their salaries. Only 147 responded, and 37 of those said they did not donate their salaries. Lawmakers such as House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) said they would only donate their salaries if federal workers did not receive back-pay once the government was up and running again.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who many blamed for the shutdown, did donate his salary, but not back to the federal government. He donated $7,627.40 to a charter school system in Houston, Tex., according to the Post.
