Withholds a day's pay from each Member of Congress for every day a government shutdown is in effect, holding the amounts in escrow until the November 2026 general election.

Official title: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Introduced 31-OCT-2025

Referred 31-OCT-2025

Approved by committee 18-MAR-2026

Key points

Defines a government shutdown as a lapse in appropriations for one or more federal agencies or departments.
For days after the November 2026 general election, excludes one day's pay for each 24-hour period of a shutdown from Members' pay.
For days before that election, withholds the same amounts and deposits them in an escrow account, releasing them to Members at the end of the Congress so pay does not vary in violation of the 27th Amendment.
Directs the Treasury Secretary to assist the Senate and House payroll administrators in carrying out the section.

AI-generated from the Introduced in House text of 31-OCT-2025 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

No CRS summary yet. CRS writes one for most bills, often months after they move.

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Check on congress.gov

Committee referrals (2)

Policy area

Congress

Sponsor Bryan Steil (R-WI) Cosponsors · 13

■ 12 R■ 1 D

12 Republicans

1 Democrat

congress.gov page Introduced in House (31-OCT-2025)