Shutdown Fairness Act
Shutdown Fairness Act
Plain Language Summary
# Shutdown Fairness Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The Shutdown Fairness Act would require the federal government to pay certain employees during a government shutdown. Currently, federal employees deemed "essential" or "excepted"—those required to work when the government shuts down—are not paid until the shutdown ends. This bill would change that by providing immediate funding to pay these workers their regular salaries, benefits, and allowances during any shutdown period. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects federal employees who must continue working during shutdowns (like air traffic controllers, border patrol agents, and federal law enforcement).
It also extends to certain contractors who support federal operations and active-duty military members during shutdowns. Federal agencies would use the appropriated funds to pay these workers without waiting for Congress to resolve the budget dispute that caused the shutdown. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been brought to a floor vote. The bill aims to address a longstanding issue where essential workers face financial hardship during shutdowns despite being required to work.
CRS Official Summary
Shutdown Fairness ActThis bill provides appropriations to pay federal employees who work during a government shutdown.Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments to excepted employees for work performed during any period in which interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations are not in effect for a fiscal year (i.e., a government shutdown). An excepted employee is an employee who is required to work during a government shutdown.Under current law, excepted employees are not paid until the government shutdown is over. This bill provides appropriations to pay excepted employees during a government shutdown. The bill also specifies that the term excepted employee includes certain contractors who support federal employees during a government shutdown and members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty. A federal agency may not use the funds provided by this bill during any period in which continuing appropriations are in effect for the purpose of paying excepted employees of the agency.The bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.