HR 5891 United States House · 119th Congress

Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

This bill requires that U.S. Representatives and Senators have their pay withheld for each day a government shutdown occurs during their pay period. If a shutdown happens, Congress's payroll office would withhold an amount equal to one day's salary for each full day of the shutdown, either reducing the current pay or holding funds in a special account until after the November 2026 election (for shutdowns before that date). The law applies to all federal agency shutdowns and specifies that withheld funds must be released to members on the 2026 election date to comply with constitutional pay protections. It takes effect for shutdowns occurring after the 2026 election.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Oct 31, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 10 - 0.
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Oct 31, 2025
Committee
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.
lower
Oct 31, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 13 co-sponsors

Sponsors