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H.R. 1973House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

Sponsored by Eugene Simon VindmanRep. Eugene Simon Vindman (D-VA)
Introduced March 10, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:03 AM UTC

The No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act would cut members of Congress’s annual salary for each day the nation’s debt ceiling is reached or a federal shutdown occurs, but only for days after the November 2026 election. During the 119th Congress, the reductions are held in escrow and paid out at the end of that Congress to avoid violating the Constitution’s 27th Amendment. The Treasury Secretary is tasked with helping the congressional payroll offices implement the rule.

Key Provisions

  • If the public debt limit is reached on any day, each member’s annual salary is reduced by one day’s worth of pay for each 24‑hour period the limit is in effect.
  • If a government shutdown occurs on any day, each member’s annual salary is reduced by one day’s worth of pay for each 24‑hour period the shutdown lasts.
  • These reductions apply only to days that occur after the November 2026 general election.
  • For the 119th Congress (2025‑2027), the payroll administrators must withhold the calculated reduction amounts each pay period and place them in an escrow account; any remaining escrow balance is paid out to members at the end of the 119th Congress.
  • The Treasury Secretary must assist the House and Senate payroll administrators in carrying out the withholding and escrow process.
  • Definitions clarify who counts as a “Member of Congress” and who the “payroll administrator” is for each chamber.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

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.

Committee on House Administration

March 10, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 10, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Committee on House Administration

March 10, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 10, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1973

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 10, 2025

Mr. Vindman (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was 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

A BILL

To reduce the annual rate of pay of Members of Congress if the public debt limit is reached or a Government shutdown occurs during a year, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act.

2.

Requiring reduction of pay of Members of Congress if public debt limit is reached

(a)

Reduction of Pay for Each Day of Government Shutdown

(1)

In general

If on any day during a year the public debt limit is reached, the annual rate of pay applicable under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501) with respect to each Member of Congress for the year shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of—

(A)

an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay under such annual rate; and

(B)

the number of 24-hour periods during which the public debt limit is reached.

(2)

Effective date

This subsection shall apply with respect to days occurring after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026.

(b)

Special rule for One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

(1)

Holding Salaries in Escrow

If on any day during the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress the public debt limit is reached, the payroll administrator of that House of Congress shall—

(A)

withhold from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to a pay period for the compensation of each Member of Congress who serves in that House of Congress an amount equal to the product of—

(i)

an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay under the annual rate of pay applicable to the Member under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501), and

(ii)

the number of 24-hour periods during which the public debt limit is reached which occur during the pay period; and

(B)

deposit in an escrow account all amounts withheld under subparagraph (A).

(2)

Release of amounts at end of the Congress

In order to ensure that this subsection is carried out in a manner that shall not vary the compensation of Members of Congress in violation of the twenty-seventh article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the payroll administrator of a House of Congress shall release for payments to Members of that House of Congress any amounts remaining in any escrow account under this subsection on the last day of the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress.

(3)

Exception for days occurring after general election

This subsection does not apply with respect to any day during the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress which occurs after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026.

(c)

Determination of reaching of public debt limit

For purposes of this section, the public debt limit shall be considered to be reached if the Federal Government is unable to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit under section 3101 of title 31, United States Code, has been reached.

3.

Requiring reduction of pay of Members of Congress if Government shutdown occurs

(a)

Reduction of pay for each day of Government shutdown

(1)

In general

If on any day during a year a Government shutdown is in effect, the annual rate of pay applicable under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501) with respect to each Member of Congress for the year shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of—

(A)

an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay under such annual rate; and

(B)

the number of 24-hour periods during which the Government shutdown is in effect.

(2)

Effective date

This subsection shall apply with respect to days occurring after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026.

(b)

Special rule for One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

(1)

Holding salaries in escrow

If on any day during the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress a Government shutdown is in effect, the payroll administrator of that House of Congress shall—

(A)

withhold from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to a pay period for the compensation of each Member of Congress who serves in that House of Congress an amount equal to the product of—

(i)

an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay under the annual rate of pay applicable to the Member under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501); and

(ii)

the number of 24-hour periods during which the Government shutdown is in effect which occur during the pay period; and

(B)

deposit in an escrow account all amounts withheld under subparagraph (A).

(2)

Release of amounts at end of the Congress

In order to ensure that this subsection is carried out in a manner that shall not vary the compensation of Senators or Representatives in violation of the twenty-seventh article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the payroll administrator of a House of Congress shall release for payments to Members of that House of Congress any amounts remaining in any escrow account under this subsection on the last day of the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress.

(3)

Exception for days occurring after general election

This subsection does not apply with respect to any day during the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress which occurs after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026.

(c)

Determination of Government shutdown

For purposes of this section, a Government shutdown shall be considered to be in effect if there is a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.

4.

Role of Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury shall provide the payroll administrators of the Houses of Congress with such assistance as may be necessary to enable the payroll administrators to carry out this Act.

5.

Definitions

(a)

Member of Congress

In this Act, the term Member of Congress means an individual serving in a position under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501).

(b)

Payroll administrator

In this Act, the payroll administrator of a House of Congress means—

(1)

in the case of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, or an employee of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer who is designated by the Chief Administrative Officer to carry out this Act; and

(2)

in the case of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate who is designated by the Secretary to carry out this Act.