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H.R. 5891119th CongressIn markupLatest action Mar 18, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. 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
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.
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.
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.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
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.