Sponsor
Cory Mills
Representative · R-FL
Representative · R-FL
The bill creates a personal financial penalty for lawmakers to deter government shutdowns and boost accountability, but risks constitutional challenges, reduced near-term effectiveness due to a delayed start, and possible disruption of legislative work during funding lapses.
Taxpayers and the general public: Members of Congress' pay drops to $1 during any session that includes a funding lapse, creating a strong personal financial incentive for lawmakers to avoid government shutdowns.
Taxpayers and voters: By making lawmakers personally bear immediate financial consequences for funding lapses, the bill could increase accountability and public trust in Congress' handling of appropriations.
Members of Congress: Altering legislator compensation midterm bypasses statutory safeguards and could raise separation-of-powers or other constitutional questions, risking legal challenges that could invalidate the penalty.
Voters and current Members: The law's delay of effectiveness until after the next general election reduces its near-term leverage to prevent upcoming shutdowns and creates unequal treatment between current and future members.
Members of Congress and state/local governments: Imposing punitive pay cuts could distract or demoralize lawmakers and disrupt essential legislative work during shutdowns, potentially worsening coordination with state and local governments.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Reduces each Member of Congress’s pay to $1 for any session period that includes days during an appropriations lapse caused by failure to pass appropriations or a continuing resolution.
Official title: To reduce the pay of Members of Congress in the case of a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 12, 2025 by Cory Mills · Last progress December 12, 2025
Reduces each Member of Congress’s pay to $1 for any continuous session period that includes one or more days when federal agencies lack appropriations because Congress failed to pass regular appropriations or a continuing resolution. The pay reduction applies to the pay for the entire affected session period and becomes effective for days occurring after the next regularly scheduled general election following enactment. The bill defines which officials are "Members of Congress" by reference to existing law and overrides the usual statutory pay provision for Members during the specified period, making the reduction binding notwithstanding current pay statutes.