Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and 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.
H.R. 5802, the Make America Govern Again Act, aims to change how pay is handled during government shutdowns. The bill ensures that most federal employees continue receiving their salaries during any lapse in appropriations, while simultaneously withholding pay from Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and senior executive branch officials until the shutdown ends. Specifically, paychecks for these elected and appointed officials would be deposited into escrow accounts during shutdowns and only released once appropriations are restored, though any remaining funds would be paid out at the end of their terms or congressional sessions to comply with constitutional limits on varying congressional compensation. The bill provides no new funding—it authorizes use of existing Treasury funds for employee salaries and changes only how shutdown pay is distributed among different government personnel. Introduced in October 2025 by Representative Larson and three colleagues, the bill was referred to the House committees on Appropriations, Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration.
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