Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

This bill establishes a mechanism to reduce the annual compensation of Members of Congress during periods of government shutdown. A government shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations for one or more federal agencies or departments. For each 24-hour period a shutdown is in effect, a Member's pay will be affected, with specific payroll administrators responsible for implementing these provisions. Initially, from the bill's enactment until the general election in November 2026, affected pay will be withheld and placed into an escrow account . These funds will be released to Members on the pay reduction effective date to ensure compliance with the 27th Amendment, which prohibits varying congressional compensation during a term. After the November 2026 election, the bill mandates a direct reduction in the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress for the duration of any government shutdown.