No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

This bill establishes provisions to reduce the annual pay of Members of Congress under specific circumstances. It mandates a daily reduction in congressional pay if either the public debt limit is reached or a government shutdown occurs . This direct pay reduction mechanism will take effect for days occurring after the regularly scheduled general election in November 2026. For the duration of the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress , a special rule applies to address these situations. If the public debt limit is reached or a government shutdown is in effect, the payroll administrator for each House of Congress will withhold a day's worth of pay for each affected 24-hour period. These withheld amounts will be deposited into an escrow account and subsequently released to Members on the last day of the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, ensuring compliance with the Twenty-Seventh Amendment regarding changes to congressional compensation. The bill defines the public debt limit as being reached when the Federal Government is unable to meet its obligations due to the statutory limit. A government shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department. The Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with providing necessary assistance to the payroll administrators to implement these provisions.