Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, 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.
The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, military personnel, and certain contract workers continue to receive pay during government shutdowns. The bill automatically appropriates whatever funds are necessary to pay federal workers their regular compensation—including salary, allowances, and benefits—for any period when Congress fails to pass regular appropriations. Contract workers who support federal agencies and are deemed essential during a shutdown would also receive payment under this law. The bill applies to fiscal year 2026 and all future years, with payments required as soon as practicable (within 7 days) if a shutdown is already underway when the bill passes, or on regular pay dates for future shutdowns. The emergency appropriations automatically end once Congress passes either a full-year budget or continuing resolution for the affected agencies, and these payments would later be charged against the final appropriations act when it's enacted.
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