Bills · HR 5801
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5801Government Operations and Politics
Shutdown Fairness Act
INTRO OCT 21· LAST ACTION OCT 21
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
17
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it addresses a significant source of stress and financial hardship for thousands of essential government workers and their families during government shutdowns. When the government runs out of money, these individuals are often forced to work without pay, making it difficult to cover basic living expenses, pay bills, or manage household budgets. This can lead to severe financial strain, impacting their well-being and potentially their ability to perform critical public safety and security duties.
If this bill becomes law, these essential workers, including certain contractors and military personnel, would no longer have to worry about missing paychecks during a shutdown. This change would provide crucial financial stability for a vital segment of the workforce, potentially improving morale, reducing financial stress, and ensuring the continued, uninterrupted functioning of critical government services. If it doesn't become law, these workers will continue to face the same financial uncertainties during future shutdowns, relying on Congress to pass specific legislation for back pay after the shutdown ends.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Automatically provides funds to pay essential federal employees, certain contractors, and active-duty military members during a government shutdown.
Ensures vital workers continue to receive income during funding lapses, preventing financial hardship and maintaining critical services.
PROVISION 02
Defines "excepted employee" to include federal staff deemed essential, supporting contractors, and active-duty military personnel.
Broadens the scope of financial protection to a wider range of individuals critical to government operations during a shutdown.
PROVISION 03
Establishes this automatic funding mechanism for fiscal year 2026 and all subsequent fiscal years.
Creates a permanent and standing solution for timely payments during future government shutdowns, rather than requiring ad-hoc legislation.
PROVISION 04
Specifies that the automatic funding stops once Congress passes a regular spending bill for the agency, regardless of whether that bill specifically covers shutdown pay.
Prevents indefinite automatic funding and ensures a return to regular congressional appropriation processes when a budget is passed.
PROVISION 05
Directs that any money spent through this automatic funding be charged to the agency's regular appropriation once that bill becomes law.
Ensures that the cost of these payments is ultimately accounted for within the agency's permanent budget, maintaining fiscal oversight.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 17
R· South Dakota
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
39
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 17 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSOCT 21
Introduced in House
OCT 21
Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5801
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedOct 21, 2025
Last actionOct 21, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED OCT 21, 2025
House BillHR 5801Government Operations and Politics
Shutdown Fairness Act
INTRODUCED OCT 21, 2025· LAST ACTION OCT 21, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
17
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
