Bill would dock lawmakers' pay for every day of a shutdown
In markupH.R. 5891Latest action
Sponsor: Bryan Steil · Representative · WI
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act
119th Congress
Topics: Government & democracy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
Members of Congress would lose one day's pay for each day the government stays shut down.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill would cut the pay of members of Congress for each day the federal government is shut down due to a funding lapse. Until after the November 2026 election, withheld pay would go into an escrow account rather than being lost immediately, due to 27th Amendment restrictions. After that election, any escrowed funds would be released, and future shutdown pay cuts would become permanent.
Who does it affect?
Members of the U.S. House and Senate would be directly affected, since their pay would be tied to whether the government is funded. Federal employees, contractors, and the public would not see any change to their pay or benefits.
Why does it matter?
The measure is intended to create a financial consequence for lawmakers when government funding lapses. It ties congressional compensation directly to whether a shutdown occurs.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedOct 31, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Mar 18, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 10 - 0.