Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

This bill reduces the annual pay of Members of Congress if a government shutdown occurs during a year. It defines a government shutdown as a lapse in appropriations for one or more federal agencies or departments. The bill applies to Members of Congress as defined in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.

Sec. 2, No pay for Members of Congress during government shutdowns: If a government shutdown occurs on any day during a pay period after the November 2026 general election, the payroll administrator for each House of Congress must deduct from each Member's pay an amount equal to one day's pay multiplied by the number of 24-hour periods the shutdown is in effect during that pay period.

Sec. 2(c), Special rule for Members of Congress before general election: For days before the November 2026 election, if a government shutdown occurs, the payroll administrator must withhold the same amount from each Member's pay and deposit it into an escrow account. These escrowed amounts must be released to the Members on the pay reduction effective date (after the November 2026 election) to comply with the 27th Amendment. This rule applies from the date of enactment until the pay reduction effective date.

Sec. 2(d), Role of Secretary of the Treasury: The Secretary of the Treasury must assist the payroll administrators in carrying out this section.