Contact Congress about S. 3057: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

Starting after the November 2026 election, Members of Congress permanently lose one day of pay for each day the government is shut down. Before that date, the same amount is withheld but eventually paid back. Even a partial shutdown that affects just one agency triggers the pay cut.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Latest action on S. 3057: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects all sitting Senators and Representatives. Their paychecks would shrink during government shutdowns. Congressional payroll administrators and the Treasury Department would take on new duties to calculate and process the pay changes. The bill does not change how shutdowns affect federal employees, contractors, or public services.

Why this matters: During budget fights, lawmakers can let government funding lapse with little personal financial consequence. This bill tries to change that by tying their own paychecks to whether the government stays open. Whether the pay cut is large enough to actually influence negotiations is debatable, but it signals that lawmakers should share in the consequences of a shutdown. The bill does not address the broader damage shutdowns cause to federal workers and public services.

Key provisions in S. 3057

• A "government shutdown" means any time Congress fails to fund one or more federal agencies or departments — even a partial shutdown counts.
• The House and Senate payroll offices must figure out how many full 24-hour shutdown periods fall in each pay cycle and adjust Member paychecks accordingly.
• After the November 2026 general election, Members of Congress permanently lose one day of pay for every day a shutdown is in effect.
• Before the November 2026 election, the same daily amount is withheld from paychecks but placed into escrow (a holding account) rather than permanently cut.
• All money held in escrow must be released and paid to Members once the permanent pay reductions begin, so the 27th Amendment's rule against changing congressional pay mid-term is not violated.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 3057

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 3057

What is S. 3057?

Starting after the November 2026 election, Members of Congress permanently lose one day of pay for each day the government is shut down. Before that date, the same amount is withheld but eventually paid back. Even a partial shutdown that affects just one agency triggers the pay cut.

How do I support or oppose S. 3057?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 3057?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 3057 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.