Nine Lawmakers Earned More From Books Than Salaries
Federal legislators turned to writing in 2025 to supplement their fixed $174,000 annual pay.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Books
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In 2025, nine federal lawmakers generated book income that exceeded their official annual congressional salary of $174,000. An additional two dozen members of Congress also reported supplemental earnings from writing books during the same period.
Why it matters
Lawmakers have turned to literary endeavors as a workaround because federal law prohibits outside side gigs, while congressional salaries have remained stagnant for nearly two decades.
Nine federal lawmakers generated over $174,000 in book income during 2025, surpassing their baseline annual congressional salary. Additionally, 24 other members of Congress secured four- or five-figure supplemental payments through book deals.
The details
Members of Congress utilized a literary loophole to bypass strict federal regulations that prevent them from working outside jobs. Many representatives are now actively pursuing book projects as a primary method to increase their total annual compensation.
Timeline
In 2025, nine lawmakers earned more than their base salary through book writing.
Industry Dynamics
The reliance on book deals as a financial workaround for Congressional pay follows a pattern set by the Ethics in Government Act restrictions on outside earned income. This shift highlights a trend where public officials leverage their personal platforms to circumvent stagnant legislative pay structures.
Average citizens should note that legislators are increasingly incentivized to write books to maintain their standard of living amidst static public salaries. This trend directly influences the types of content and political narratives available to the public in the book marketplace.
The takeaway
Legislators are increasingly using the literary market to address the fact that congressional pay has not increased in nearly twenty years. Readers can expect this trend of politician-authored books to continue as more members seek out legally permitted supplemental income streams.
Further reading
Explore more analysis regarding the industry of Books in the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.
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