Congress ties its own paycheck to finishing the budget on time
H.R. 5738 — No Budget, No Pay Act · Filed by Tim Moore (R-NC) · 9 cosponsors · Introduced Oct 10, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires Congress to pass a budget and all regular appropriations bills by October 1 each year, or members of Congress lose their pay until they do. The Budget and Appropriations Chairs in each chamber certify compliance and determine how long the pay withholding lasts. The bill takes effect in September 2027.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a procedural enforcement tool that ties congressional compensation to timely completion of budgeting duties. It does not create new spending, regulate industries, or benefit narrow interests—it is a structural incentive designed to improve legislative discipline.
What the text implies
- The bill grants significant discretionary power to Budget and Appropriations Chairs to determine compliance and the duration of pay withholding, potentially creating leverage or disputes over procedural interpretation.
- A two-year delay before effectiveness (September 2027) may signal expectation of legislative resistance or allow time for political negotiation before the mechanism activates.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill creates a direct financial incentive for Congress to complete its core budgeting duties on time, which serves the public interest by reducing government shutdowns, uncertainty, and the use of continuing resolutions that bypass normal appropriations scrutiny. Citizens benefit from more predictable, timely fiscal governance.