Bill · H.R. 5792· House(119-HR-5792)
Government Shutdown Salary Suspension Act
- Introduced
- 10/17/2025
- Last activity
- 10/17/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- Sponsored by
- Frederica Wilson
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Government Shutdown Salary Suspension Act aims to stop the payment of salaries to Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President while a government shutdown is occurring. During a shutdown, the required pay is instead placed into an escrow account rather than being paid out immediately. For Members of Congress, these funds are released once the shutdown ends or at the end of the current Congress. For the President and Vice President, the funds are released at the end of their specific term of office. A government shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations caused by a failure to pass a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution.
Yes
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+1
The bill aims to increase political accountability for budget lapses by delaying compensation for top officials.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+1
The bill creates a transparent mechanism for withholding pay to reflect government shutdowns.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Holding pay in escrow for Members of Congress ensures that compensation is delayed during a shutdown rather than paid immediately, which may hold officials accountable for a lapse in appropriations (Section 2(a)).
-
The release of escrow funds at the end of a term or Congress ensures that the compensation of Senators or Representatives is not permanently changed in violation of the twenty-seventh amendment (Section 2(a)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Delayed compensation for Members of Congress means that their pay is excluded from regular pay periods and held in escrow until the shutdown ends or the Congress expires (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Delayed compensation for the President and Vice President means that their pay is held in an escrow account and is not released until the end of their term of office (Section 3(b) and Section 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 10/17/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John GaramendiDemocrat · California