MAGA Act
Rep. Larson Introduces MAGA Act to Pay Federal Workers and Halt Pay for Leaders During Shutdowns
The MAGA Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been sent to three different House committees for review and is waiting for further action. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill guarantees paychecks for most federal civilian employees and military members during any government shutdown by automatically appropriating funds from the Treasury. This protects workers from financial hardship caused by political disputes over spending bills.
From policy text
“There are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, during any lapse in discretionary appropriations beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, such sums as are necessary for the salary and expenses of any employee in the civil service or the uniformed services”
View in full text - Top agency leaders, including heads of executive departments and their deputy secretaries, are specifically excluded from the pay protection. They would not receive pay during a shutdown, just like elected officials.
From policy text
“Subsection (a) shall not apply to-- (1) the head of any Executive department (as that term is defined in section 101 of such title); or (2) any deputy secretary (or equivalent) of such a department.”
View in full text - Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President would have their pay withheld during a shutdown and placed in an escrow account. They only get that money back once the shutdown ends or their term of office expires, creating a financial incentive to resolve budget disputes quickly.
From policy text
“If on any day during a pay period occurring during the term of office of the President or Vice President a Government shutdown is in effect, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall-- (1) deposit in an escrow account and exclude from the payments otherwise required to be made”
View in full text - High-ranking political appointees in the Executive Office of the President, including those in the Senior Executive Service on noncareer appointments and Schedule C employees, would also lose their pay entirely during a shutdown with no escrow protection.
From policy text
“During any period in which a Government shutdown is in effect, no funds may be made available for the salary and expenses of any officer or employee in the Executive Office of the President who occupies a position-- (1) described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5, United States Code”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
MAGA Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(6)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.