Bills · HR 5891
REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5891Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementMembers of Congress
Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act
This bill stops pay for Members of Congress during government shutdowns and permanently reduces their salary for each day the government remains closed after the 2026 election.AI-written
INTRO OCT 31· LAST ACTION MAR 18
PASSAGE CHANCESUNCERTAIN
15%
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
13
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Reported, not passed
tl;dr
AI-writtenPermanently docks the daily pay of every Senator and Representative for each day the federal government is shut down, starting after the 2026 election.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 3 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenGovernment shutdowns have become a recurring tool in political negotiations, often leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay and causing billions of dollars in economic loss. Voters often feel that lawmakers face no personal consequences for failing to perform the basic duty of funding the government while the public bears the burden.
If this becomes law, it creates a 'skin in the game' incentive for lawmakers to reach compromises. Without this law, Members of Congress continue to receive their $174,000+ annual salaries regardless of whether the government is functioning, which many see as an unfair double standard compared to the average worker.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Permanent pay reduction after 2026
It ensures that lawmakers actually lose money for failing to fund the government rather than just receiving it late.
PROVISION 02
Immediate escrow requirement
It forces an immediate suspension of pay during shutdowns while technically following constitutional rules about pay changes.
PROVISION 03
Broad definition of a shutdown
The pay penalty triggers even if only a single federal agency or department loses funding, not just a full government closure.
PROVISION 04
Administrative enforcement
It tasks the Chief Administrative Officer of the House and the Secretary of the Senate with automatically docking pay without requiring further votes.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 13
R· Wisconsin
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
35
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 15%
DEM 1 REP 12 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
4 EVENTSMAR 18
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
MAR 18
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 10 - 0.
OCT 31
Introduced in House
OCT 31
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5891
Congress119th
StatusReported
IntroducedOct 31, 2025
Last actionMar 18, 2026
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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED OCT 31, 2025
House BillHR 5891Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementMembers of Congress
Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act
This bill stops pay for Members of Congress during government shutdowns and permanently reduces their salary for each day the government remains closed after the 2026 election.AI-written
INTRODUCED OCT 31, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 18, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
15%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
13
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
