No Budget, No Pay Act

This bill stops pay for members of a chamber of Congress if that chamber hasn’t agreed on a budget plan for the next fiscal year by April 15. Starting April 16, their pay is put on hold in a separate account until that chamber approves a budget plan or until the end of that Congress. It doesn’t change the total amount they earn—any withheld pay must be released by the last day of the Congress. Normal tax and other paycheck deductions still happen while the pay is on hold. It would begin with the 2026 fiscal year and continue in later years.

This applies to Senators and Representatives, and also to Delegates and the Resident Commissioner. A nonpartisan summary states the pay would be withheld from April 16 until a budget is approved or Congress ends .

• Who is affected: Members of Congress in the chamber that misses the deadline, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
• What changes: Paychecks are held from April 16 until the chamber approves a budget plan or Congress ends; normal withholdings continue; all withheld pay is paid out when the period ends.
• When: Starts with fiscal year 2026 and applies every year after that.