MAGA Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5802
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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
- 2026-03-30T18:41:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5802: Make America Govern Again Act (MAGA Act)
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill aims to ensure that most federal civilian and military employees continue receiving pay during periods when Congress fails to pass funding bills, while preventing Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and certain senior executive staff from receiving pay during such periods. It seeks to maintain government operations for essential workers and create financial pressure on leaders to resolve funding disputes quickly.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Employee Pay During Funding Lapses: Automatically provides funding for salaries and expenses of civil service and uniformed services employees (excluding department heads and their deputies) whenever discretionary appropriations lapse.
- Congressional Pay Withholding: Holds Members of Congress's salaries in escrow accounts during shutdowns, releasing them only after the shutdown ends or at the end of the congressional term. This applies to the 119th Congress and all future ones, with tax withholdings handled normally.
- Presidential and Vice Presidential Pay Withholding: Places the President’s and Vice President’s salaries in escrow during shutdowns, with release after the shutdown resolves or at the end of their term.
- Executive Office Staff Pay Ban: Bars funding for salaries of certain high-level Executive Office of the President staff, including those on the Executive Schedule, noncareer Senior Executive Service appointees, and Schedule C policy positions, during shutdowns.
- Shutdown Definition: Defines a government shutdown as any lapse in appropriations caused by the failure to pass a regular funding bill or continuing resolution.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This legislation creates new automatic funding mechanisms for employee pay during lapses, which previously required specific congressional action or emergency measures. It adds permanent escrow and withholding rules for congressional, presidential, and vice presidential compensation, along with new restrictions on executive branch salaries not previously tied directly to shutdown status.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Allows most agencies to retain operational staff without interruption, potentially reducing service disruptions, though top leadership in departments would still face pay delays.
- On Citizens: Ensures continued pay for federal workers who provide public services, minimizing economic effects on families and local economies during shutdowns.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct effects, though prolonged shutdowns could indirectly affect diplomatic staffing or operations if key personnel are impacted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal civil service and uniformed services employees (primary beneficiaries of continued pay).
- Members of Congress (subject to pay withholding).
- The President and Vice President (subject to pay withholding).
- Senior Executive Office of the President staff (barred from pay during shutdowns).
- Payroll administrators in Congress and the Office of Personnel Management (responsible for implementing escrow processes).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill includes safeguards to avoid violating the 27th Amendment by releasing any remaining escrowed congressional pay at the end of each term. It raises potential questions about the separation of powers, as it imposes pay restrictions on the executive branch through legislation. Politically, it aims to shift incentives during budget negotiations by directly affecting the compensation of elected officials and senior appointees.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.
- 2025-10-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Make America Govern Again Act — issued 2025-10-21 — PDF (10 pages)