FUBAR Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6692
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-12: 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
- 2026-01-08T15:02:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to penalize Members of Congress by drastically reducing their pay during periods when the federal government faces a shutdown due to failure to pass necessary funding bills, thereby incentivizing timely budget approvals.
Key Provisions
- Pay Reduction Trigger: If there is a lapse in appropriations (meaning no funding is provided) for any federal agency or department during a congressional session, due to the failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution (a temporary funding measure), the daily pay rate for each Member of Congress drops to $1.
- Duration of Reduction: The reduced pay applies from the first day of the lapse until the end of the congressional session.
- Definition of Member of Congress: Includes individuals serving as Representatives, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, as defined under existing law.
- Effective Date: The pay reduction rule takes effect for days after the next regularly scheduled general election for federal office following the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill overrides a provision in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501), which currently protects Members of Congress from having their pay reduced during a session of Congress. Instead, it introduces a severe financial penalty tied directly to government funding failures.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: No direct impact, but it could indirectly encourage Congress to pass funding measures more promptly, potentially reducing the frequency or duration of government shutdowns that disrupt agency operations.
- On Citizens: Minimal direct effects, though fewer shutdowns might prevent delays in federal services like Social Security payments or national park access that occur during lapses.
- On International Relations: None specified or implied in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: Members of Congress, who would face significant personal financial consequences (a drop from their standard salary of about $174,000 annually to effectively $1 per day during affected periods).
- Secondary: Federal agencies and employees, who might benefit from reduced shutdown risks, and the broader public reliant on uninterrupted government functions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Amends federal compensation statutes by linking congressional pay to legislative performance on budgeting, which could face court challenges if seen as violating protections against mid-term pay reductions; however, as a self-imposed rule by Congress, it aligns with their authority over their own compensation.
- Constitutional: Relates to Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits reducing congressional pay during a session without an intervening election—this bill navigates this by delaying effectiveness until after the next election.
- Political: Creates a strong incentive (or "skin in the game") for lawmakers to avoid shutdowns, potentially shifting partisan dynamics around budget negotiations, but it may also be viewed as symbolic or divisive given the acronym "FUBAR" (a term implying dysfunction).
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-12: 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.
- 2025-12-12: 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.
- 2025-12-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Failed to Uphold the Budget? Allowance: Reduced Act — issued 2025-12-12 — PDF (2 pages)