No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

# Summary of HR 1973: No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act **What the bill would do:** This bill would stop paying members of Congress on days when the federal government shuts down or when the nation reaches its debt limit (the maximum amount the government is legally allowed to borrow). The goal is to create financial pressure on lawmakers to resolve these budget disputes quickly. For the current Congress (2025-2027), withheld pay would be held in escrow and given back on the last day.

For future Congresses, members simply wouldn't receive payment for those days, with some exceptions allowed. **Who it affects:** All members of Congress—senators and representatives from both parties—would be affected if they're serving during a shutdown or debt ceiling crisis. The bill also indirectly affects federal employees and the public, since government shutdowns disrupt federal services and create broader economic uncertainty. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full chamber. Similar "no-pay" bills have been proposed in past Congresses with limited success.