No Work, No Pay Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5637
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-13T15:08:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Work, No Pay Act of 2025" aims to withhold pay from Members of Congress during periods of government shutdown, defined as a lapse in funding for any federal agency due to the failure to pass necessary spending bills. The goal is to tie congressional compensation to the absence of such disruptions.
Key Provisions
- Pay Withholding Mechanism: During any pay period affected by a government shutdown, the daily pay of each Member of Congress is deducted for each full 24-hour period of the shutdown. Daily pay is calculated based on the member's annual salary under existing law (2 U.S.C. 4501).
- Implementation Roles:
- Payroll administrators for the House (Chief Administrative Officer or designee) and Senate (Secretary of the Senate or designee) handle the deductions.
- The Secretary of the Treasury provides necessary support to these administrators.
- Definitions:
- "Government shutdown" occurs if appropriations lapse for any federal department or agency because Congress fails to enact a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution (a temporary funding measure).
- "Member of Congress" includes Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
- Effective Date: Applies starting with the 120th Congress (beginning in 2027) and all subsequent Congresses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new requirement to suspend congressional pay during shutdowns, which was not previously mandated. Under current law, Members of Congress continue to receive their full salaries even during funding lapses that affect other federal employees and operations.
- It amends compensation rules under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 by adding shutdown-related deductions, without altering base pay rates.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on congressional pay; however, it may indirectly encourage faster passage of funding bills to avoid shutdowns, reducing disruptions to agency operations.
- On Citizens: Could lead to fewer or shorter shutdowns, minimizing delays in government services like national parks, tax processing, or benefit payments that affect the public during past shutdowns.
- On International Relations: Negligible, as the bill is domestic and does not address foreign policy or funding for international programs.
- Overall, it creates financial incentives for Congress to prevent shutdowns, potentially stabilizing federal operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: Members of Congress (Senators and House members), who would face reduced pay during shutdowns, potentially losing a pro-rated portion of their approximately $174,000 annual salary.
- Secondary: Congressional staff and administrators responsible for payroll, as well as the Treasury Department, which must provide assistance.
- Indirect: Federal employees and contractors (who already lose pay during shutdowns) and the general public, who may benefit from reduced shutdown frequency.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill self-imposes restrictions on congressional compensation, which Congress has authority to regulate under Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution. It aligns with the 27th Amendment (prohibiting laws varying congressional pay from taking effect until after the next election) by delaying implementation to the 120th Congress.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts, as it does not infringe on separation of powers; however, enforcement relies on internal congressional processes, which could face challenges if disputed.
- Political: May increase pressure on lawmakers to negotiate and pass funding measures promptly, potentially reducing partisan standoffs over budgets. Critics might argue it unfairly targets Congress without addressing underlying causes of shutdowns, while supporters could view it as promoting accountability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: 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.
- 2025-09-30: 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.
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Work, No Pay Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (3 pages)