Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

Key Points

• This bill would stop Members of Congress from being paid for any day the federal government is shut down. If one or more agencies run out of money and close, lawmakers would lose a full day of pay for every 24 hours the shutdown lasts.
• The plan handles pay differently depending on the date to follow the Constitution. Until November 2026, any withheld pay would be kept in a special holding account and given back to lawmakers at the end of their term. After the 2026 election, the pay would be permanently cut and never paid back.
• This policy aims to hold lawmakers accountable for failing to pass a budget on time. While many federal workers are often sent home without pay during shutdowns, Members of Congress currently continue to receive their salaries. This bill would make sure they feel the same financial pressure as other government employees.
• The Secretary of the Treasury and payroll officers in the House and Senate would be responsible for calculating the daily pay rates and making sure the money is either withheld or put into the holding accounts during a funding lapse.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.