No, congressmen do not get free housing. Every member of the House and Senate pays for their own place to live in Washington, D.C., out of a base salary of $174,000 that has been frozen since 2009.1House Radio-Television Gallery. Salaries Congress does provide allowances for running an office, but by rule and by law those funds cannot be spent on a member’s rent, mortgage, or personal living costs.
Why Official Allowances Can’t Pay for Rent
House members receive a Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA) that funds staff salaries, office rent and supplies, official travel between the district and Washington, and constituent mail. The MRA is strictly for official and representational duties. It cannot be used for personal expenses, campaign activities, or anything primarily social. A member who tried to charge personal rent or groceries to the MRA would be violating House rules and potentially breaking the law.2House Committee on Ethics. Members’ Representational Allowance
Senators are funded through a parallel account, the Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA), which covers the same categories on a larger scale because senators represent whole states. For fiscal year 2026, SOPOEA totals range from roughly $4.3 million for the smallest states to about $6.6 million for California.3Senate Committee on Appropriations. FY26 Legislative Branch Senate Report The same prohibition applies: SOPOEA money is for official business, and personal housing is not official business.
How Members Actually Handle D.C. Housing
Most members keep two residences: a home back in the district or state they represent, and somewhere to sleep during sessions in Washington. Average one-bedroom rent in D.C. runs around $2,300 a month, and that bill falls on the member personally.
Approaches vary. Many rent apartments. Some share a house with other members to split the cost. A minority skip the rental market entirely and sleep on couches or cots in their Capitol Hill offices, showering in the House gym. Dozens of members have done this over the years, often describing it as fiscal responsibility. The practice is ethically gray, since congressional offices are official resources supported by taxpayer funds and House ethics rules generally prohibit using official resources for private purposes. No formal ban has been enacted despite periodic pushback.2House Committee on Ethics. Members’ Representational Allowance
The Tax Rule That Makes It Worse
Federal tax law also cuts against members here. Under 26 U.S.C. ยง 162, a member of Congress is treated as having their tax home in the state or district they represent, and the statute expressly states that living expenses a member incurs during the taxable year “shall not be deductible for income tax purposes.” Other workers can sometimes deduct the cost of living away from home for business. Members of Congress cannot.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 162 – Trade or Business Expenses
Legislation That Would Change the Picture
There has been interest in easing the burden. H.R. 2519, introduced in the 119th Congress, would create a per diem allowance for members to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses when traveling to D.C. for official business. As of early 2026, the bill remains pending and has not been enacted.5Congress.gov. HR 2519 – 119th Congress (2025-2026) Until it or something like it passes, the answer to the housing question stays the same.
What Members Do Get
Because “benefits” can sound like a package that might quietly include lodging, it’s worth naming what is actually in it. Rank-and-file members earn $174,000 a year. Leadership positions pay more: the Speaker of the House receives $223,500, and the majority and minority leaders in both chambers, along with the Senate president pro tempore, earn $193,400.1House Radio-Television Gallery. Salaries
Members buy health coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with the government paying up to 72% of the weighted average premium and the member paying the rest.6U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Premiums Retirement runs through the Federal Employees Retirement System, combining a pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan, with vesting after five years of creditable civilian service.7Office of Personnel Management. Federal Employees Retirement System (An Overview of Your Benefits)
None of these programs covers a place to live. Every member of Congress who needs a bed in Washington either signs a lease, splits one with a colleague, or unrolls a cot in the office.