To reduce the annual rate of pay of Members of Congress if a Government shutdown occurs during a year, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill, titled the No Pay for Disarray Act, docks the pay of Members of Congress for each day a government shutdown is in effect. Starting after the November 2026 general election, pay is permanently reduced by one day's worth for each day of shutdown. For the current 119th Congress (before November 2026), pay is withheld via an escrow account rather than reduced outright, to comply with the 27th Amendment's prohibition on varying Congressional compensation mid-term. Any escrowed funds are released back to Members at the end of the 119th Congress.
Who Benefits and How
- Taxpayers and the general public: Creates a financial incentive for Members of Congress to avoid government shutdowns and pass appropriations on time
- Federal employees and contractors: Indirectly benefit if the pay penalty motivates Congress to prevent or shorten shutdowns that disrupt their employment
Who Bears the Burden and How
- Members of Congress: Lose pay for each day of a government shutdown; after November 2026 the reduction is permanent (not recoverable), while during the 119th Congress funds are withheld but returned at the end of the term
- Congressional payroll administrators: The Chief Administrative Officer (House) and Secretary of the Senate must implement the withholding and escrow system
Key Provisions
- A government shutdown is defined as any lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department due to failure to enact appropriations or a continuing resolution
- For the 119th Congress, the escrow mechanism ensures 27th Amendment compliance by returning withheld funds at the end of the term
- After November 2026, pay reductions are permanent and apply to the Speaker, Vice President (as President of the Senate), Majority/Minority Leaders, and all Members
- The Secretary of the Treasury must assist payroll administrators in implementing the escrow system
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for primary purpose and policy domains.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Reduces the pay of Members of Congress for each day a government shutdown is in effect, with a special escrow mechanism for the 119th Congress to comply with the 27th Amendment.
Key Policy Areas
{'domain': 'Government Operations', 'evidence': 'Directly modifies Congressional pay procedures, establishes escrow accounts managed by the Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary of the Senate, and defines government shutdown triggers'}, {'domain': 'Budget & Appropriations', 'evidence': 'Defines government shutdown as a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department resulting from failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution'}
Primary Purpose
Reduces the pay of Members of Congress for each day a government shutdown is in effect, with a special escrow mechanism for the 119th Congress to comply with the 27th Amendment.
Policy Domains
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Craig introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Congressional payroll administrators, Members of Congress, Members of Congress (119th)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
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