Washington (AFP) – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday he would reduce his own salary in the event of a partial government shutdown that was expected to begin within hours.

During a press conference on another subject, Holder said that he was angry about the impact the intractable budget battle would have on the American people.

Lawmakers have until midnight to try to prevent the first U.S. government shutdown in 17 years by agreeing on budget legislation, but a deal appeared remote Monday.

“There are good, hard-working Americans who are going to suffer because of this dysfunction,” he said.

Holder promised that “national security would be protected.”

“But on the civil side, we will not do the job American people expect of us,” he said.