Sponsors (2)
The bill makes congressional pay subject to reduction during shutdowns to increase parity with furloughed federal workers and trim small taxpayer costs, but risks financial harms and recruitment disincentives for lower‑paid members and adds administrative payroll burdens.
Members of Congress (and parity-seeking stakeholders): members' pay will be reduced during federal shutdown days, aligning congressional pay consequences with furloughed federal employees and addressing a fairness concern.
Taxpayers: congressional payroll costs will be slightly lower during shutdowns, producing modest public savings when shutdowns occur.
Lower-paid or financially vulnerable members of Congress: reduced pay during shutdowns may deter prospective candidates with fewer resources and create financial hardship for current lower‑paid members.
Congressional and Treasury administrators (and affected employees): implementing prorated pay during shutdowns could shift attention to technical payroll disputes and increase administrative burden during contested or frequent shutdowns.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires congressional payroll administrators to withhold Members' pay for each 24‑hour period of a federal government shutdown that falls in a pay period.
Introduced September 30, 2025 by Mike Kennedy · Last progress September 30, 2025
Requires House payroll administrators to withhold pay from Members of Congress for each 24‑hour period a federal government shutdown overlaps with a pay period, with the Treasury directed to assist. Defines what counts as a government shutdown and who counts as a Member for purposes of the rule, and applies the rule to the 120th Congress and future Congresses.