MAGA Act
This bill, formally titled the "Make America Govern Again Act" (MAGA Act), aims to change how government shutdowns affect federal compensation. It automatically ensures most federal civilian and military employees continue receiving full pay during funding lapses by appropriating necessary funds directly from the Treasury, while simultaneously requiring that salaries for Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and senior political appointees be held in escrow during shutdowns. The core purpose is to increase political pressure to resolve shutdowns quickly by making elected officials and top appointees personally experience immediate financial consequences, while protecting essential frontline workers from furloughs or delayed pay. If enacted, this would fundamentally alter the dynamics of shutdown negotiations by shifting financial risk away from career staff toward decision-makers.
Key Points
- 1Automatically appropriates funds from the Treasury to pay all federal civilian and uniformed service employees (excluding Cabinet secretaries and their deputies) during any lapse in appropriations, ensuring they receive uninterrupted salaries.
- 2Requires congressional payroll offices to deposit Members of Congress' salaries into escrow accounts during shutdown days, releasing funds only after the shutdown ends or the congressional term concludes (to comply with the 27th Amendment prohibiting mid-term pay changes).
- 3Mandates the Office of Personnel Management to place the President's and Vice President's salaries in escrow during shutdowns, with release contingent on the shutdown ending or their term expiration.
- 4Prohibits salary payments for senior political appointees during shutdowns, specifically targeting Executive Schedule positions (Levels I-V), non-career Senior Executive Service roles, and confidential/policy-determining Schedule C positions.
- 5Defines a government shutdown as any period where appropriations lapse for a federal agency due to failure to pass regular bills or continuing resolutions, triggering all provisions.